State Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg, R–Sterling, Friday was successful in securing the necessary votes to defeat a “basin of origin” water bill that he says would have hurt farmers along the South Platte, the Sterling Journal-Advocate reports. “If this bill passes, you just as well paint a big red target on the back of farmers in eastern Colorado,” Sonnenberg argued. Rep. Sal Pace (D-Pueblo) introduced HB 1159 which would have made mitigation a requirement when water was transferred from one division to another. The bill lost by a 40-21 vote.