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Op-Ed wrap-up from around the state

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 11, 2009 at 8:20 am

With the deadline rapidly closing in … just hours away …. the editorial and opinion pages are awash with talk of water legislation. Here’s what’s being said from around the state.

First, the Sacramento Bee says, don’t rush this legislation:

” … The package of five bills that has emerged from weeks of mostly back-room negotiations looks promising to us. But the measures also look too complex and raise too many questions to pass them into law with only a day or two of serious review. And perhaps the most important piece – the financing – still wasn’t public by Thursday afternoon.

We’re not naive. We realize that the pressure of a deadline is usually the only thing that will get lawmakers to act on tough issues such as this one. Like lawyers negotiating on the courthouse steps as a trial is about to begin, legislators don’t want to make difficult compromises until they think they absolutely must do so.

But this is the first year of the Legislature’s two-year session, and tonight’s deadline is not set in stone. The Legislature can return, next week or next month, either in an extended regular session or in a special session called by the governor. …”

More of this editorial from the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.

The San Francisco Chronicle concurs in a broader editorial, noting that several important issues are trying to be decided in such a short period of time:

” … Water. Few matters are as complex – or as important to the state’s future – as water policy. Yet the language of a major package of bills to overhaul California water policy has just been released in the final days of session, with votes expected today. Among the loud protests: water suppliers such as the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and EBMUD, which say there are provisions that would undermine their water rights. This last-minute jam session is no way to handle such critical policy.”

Read this editorial from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.

The Woodland Daily Democrat urges the Governor & Northern California representatives to stand firm on the package including funding for surface storage, especially the Sites Reservoir:

“Sites has been discussed for more than a decade and seems no closer to happening today than it was 10 years ago.

Some are arguing that it’s too big of an issue to tackle in a week and a half. They’re right. Some of the same people are arguing that because it’s so complex, the committee should just approve billions in expenditures for the delta and worry about the rest later.

We disagree. So does the governor. He said he would not sign a comprehensive water package unless new storage is included. But Schwarzenegger has backed down from his threats before.

We urge Nielsen and Aanestad to hold firm and make off-stream storage a condition of their support for a larger water bill. This isn’t a problem that can be solved with a piecemeal approach. If it takes more than a week, so be it.”

Read the full text of this editorial from the Woodland Daily Democrat by clicking here.

Senator Tom Harman says delaying will only make matters worse in this commentary at the O. C. Register:

“For residents, businesses and farms up and down the state, delays in making the tough decisions needed to solve our water problems will only extend water shortages while millions of acre feet of water continue to be dumped in the ocean to ensure the “health” of the Delta ecosystem and to protect a small four inch fish called the delta smelt. Meanwhile, our water system is exposed to the ongoing threat of catastrophic failure caused by an earthquake in the Sacramento Delta area. The question one needs to ask is this: What’s more important, fish or people?

California’s top two industries, high-tech and agriculture, need a safe, clean and reliable water supply. This year agricultural losses in California due to lack of water are estimated to run in the billions of dollars. The Legislature’s failure to develop a comprehensive solution to our water crisis is shameful and unacceptable.

We must develop priorities that balance the needs of humans and the environmental needs of the Delta’s ecosystem. Sen. Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto, who sits on the conference committee on water, has introduced a comprehensive package of legislation that actually tackles the major issues of our water crisis. Called the Safe, Clean, Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act, it includes a bond issue that will provide the funding necessary to provide reliable water supplies for all Californians for generations to come.

The people of California expect the Legislature to find an immediate, lasting solution to our water crisis. The Legislature must put regional differences aside and adopt a comprehensive solution that addresses the needs of all Californians, not only for today but for the future. …”

Read more of Senator Harmon’s commentary by clicking here.

September 11, 2009 · Filed Under Water Legislation

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One Response to “Op-Ed wrap-up from around the state”

  1. $12bn water bill | Chance of Rain on September 11th, 2009 8:44 am

    [...] From Aquafornia, the rolling news service of the Water Education Foundation: With the deadline rapidly closing in [...]

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