Kris Mayes discusses water rights, state budget and other issues

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joined Arizona Horizon to discuss a variety of issues including water rights, the recently passed state budget and her first 100 days in office.

Concerning the budget, Mayes is “not a fan.”

“This is not a good budget,” Mayes said. “It does not deliver for the people of Arizona, and the most concerning thing is that it essentially completely ignored the out-of-control universal vouchers that we have in the state of Arizona that’s now eating up $300 million of our budget and climbing.”

There was a chance to cap the program in this budget, but that did not happen, Mayes said.

Mayes also touched on the fact that the Prescott Frontier Days Rodeo got $15 million, but Mayes’ budget to fight fentanyl, fight the drug cartels, etc. was cut.

“Explain to me how that makes sense. State agencies across the board are facing the same situation. These were bad choices that they made,” Mayes said.

Mayes said whether the governor is a Republican or Democrat, her number one priority is to help the people as Attorney General.

“I’m calling it like it is. I hope we can do a better job next year,” Mayes said.

Concerning Arizona water policy, we have to do better there as well, according to Mayes.

“There was a recent poll out that shows that water is actually the number one concern of Arizonans right now, and it should be,” Mayes said.

Hedge funds are buying land along the Colorado River, taking over water rights and selling them without looking at the impact for communities along the River, Mayes said.

“That has to stop too. We can’t give that water to hedge funds or allow them to sell it for future development in Phoenix,” Mayes said.

Mayes hopes she and Governor Hobbs are on the same page with this issue.