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Saturday’s top of the scroll: State politicos sidelining Delta area legislators in $9.4 billion repair plan; Steinberg defends proposed water legislation

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on October 31, 2009 at 8:51 am

From the Contra Costa Times:

“Legislative leaders pushing a $9.4 billion overhaul of the ecologically fragile Delta are executing a political strategy designed to neutralize Contra Costa and the other Delta counties, say two of the region’s state senators.

Sens. Lois Wolk of Davis and Mark DeSaulnier of Concord say backers of water policy and funding bills crafted behind closed doors and introduced last week are intentionally cutting deals with legislators and interests from outside the Delta to secure the votes they need to pass the package.

“The Delta is being thrown under the bus,” Wolk said. “It’s a 19th century approach, where a small group like the Big Five gets in the room, decides what to do, and then they go out and pick everyone off.”

It’s unclear if it will work. The policy bill needs a majority vote of both houses, while it takes two-thirds to put the water bond on the ballot.

As evidence, Wolk points to provisions in the bills that protect the water rights of upstream users but not those of agencies that tap directly into the Delta, including the Contra Costa Water District.

The shift would leave Delta water-rights holders responsible for providing 100 percent of the water required to restore the failing ecosystem, said Contra Costa Water District Assistant General Manager Greg Gartrell. The district has threatened to withdraw its support if the provision is not removed. …”

More from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.

From the Tracy Press:

“Forget the Freddy Krueger mask. If you want scary this Halloween, just take a look at what’s happening at the state Capitol.

Late last week, a bill was unveiled that would completely overhaul the state’s water delivery system — mandating conservation, setting up a new bureaucracy and paving the way for a canal to be built around the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

But the bogeyman is not that the proposal is making the rounds. It’s that it’s not really making the rounds.

At least according to someone who knows how these things work — she is, after all, a member of the Legislature — the process that brought about “the most significant water policy bill in decades” has so far been a cloak-and-dagger enterprise.

“It’s been very secretive,” said state Sen. Lois Wolk, a Democrat who represents Tracy in addition to vast swaths of the Delta. “I’ve never seen it this bad.” …”

Read more from the Tracy Press by clicking here.

Senator Steinberg defended the package at a luncheon on Friday, reports the Sacramento Bee:

“Facing an array of criticism from Northern California interests about controversial water legislation, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg defended the measures Friday, saying they include plenty of protections – and money – for Sacramento and Delta interests.

Steinberg, D-Sacramento, spoke as part of a panel at the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce’s annual “State of the County” luncheon. The panel focused on statewide water issues and the effects on Northern California and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

Joining him on the panel were Sacramento County Supervisor Don Nottoli, Yolo County Supervisor Mike McGowan and prominent water lawyer Stuart Somach.

The three said the bills don’t do enough to protect Northern California water rights, don’t provide enough money to local governments to compensate for the loss of farmland to habitat restoration, and don’t provide enough local representation on a new Delta Stewardship Council proposed to govern the estuary.

“We’re not trying to stand in the way of progress,” said McGowan. “Our whole pitch has been that the protection of this resource ought not be done at our expense.” …”

Read more from the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.

So what’s included in this latest legislative package? From the Sacramento Bee:

“Republicans, Democrats and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are trying to reach agreement on water legislation aimed at protecting the fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta while boosting water supplies. Here is a look at the latest proposal and some of the issues that stand in the way of a long-sought deal.

FINANCING

THE PROPOSAL: The proposal borrows $9.4 billion to pay for dams, underground water banking, water recycling, Delta restoration and regional projects. Voters must approve the bond, which would cost the state about $600 million a year in debt service at its peak.

THE STICKING POINTS: Democrats and Republicans have offered competing bonds. Neither earmarks money for dams, requiring them to compete with other projects for money. …”

More from the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.

October 31, 2009 · Filed Under Water Legislation

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One Response to “Saturday’s top of the scroll: State politicos sidelining Delta area legislators in $9.4 billion repair plan; Steinberg defends proposed water legislation”

  1. Quote of the day on November 2nd, 2009 11:46 am

    [...] two buses. There’s the state water deal. Of that, Wolk says, “It’s a 19th century approach, where a small group like the Big Five gets [...]

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