UPDATE: Water plan clears Senate [and House]
The State Senate has passed the statewide water plan:
The Georgia Senate approved a drought management plan Friday morning by a vote of 39-12. The plan will now go to the state house for approval.
Just four days into the 2008 legislative session, committees in both the House and Senate have approved a plan that has been three years in the making. Its speedy progress through the plodding Legislature is as good a signal as any that lawmakers are eager to adopt some sort of water plan — even if a few acknowledge it might not be the best.
The State House will likely adopt the plan this afternoon.
You can read the statewide water plan here.
[UPDATE] The water plan also made its way through the State House by a vote of 131 to 37, but with an odd ending. State Rep. Mark Hatfield (R-Waycross) gave notice that he would move that the House reconsider the plan on the next legislative day (Monday, January 28th). Hatfield is in effect using House rules in an attempt to defeat the plan and the timing of this tactic gives him ten days to lobby members to do so.