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Dan Walters: Earmark story underscores big difference

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 6, 2009 at 8:27 am

From Dan Walters at the Sacramento Bee:

“A batch of amendments to a massive water bond bill was submitted to the state Senate’s clerical desk Monday, and one, as it turned out, had nothing to do with water.

Later that evening, as the bond bill was being debated, Sen. Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks, asked about the opaquely worded new provision and was given a misleading answer about its effect.

But two reporters for The Bee continued to pursue the mysterious language. Finally, under questioning Tuesday, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg admitted the amendment would earmark $10 million for his pet project, a cultural tolerance center in Sacramento.

When The Bee’s story about the earmark hit the Internet at midnight, the effect on the still-pending bond bill was electric. Assembly members of both parties raised a big stink about Steinberg’s personal provision. Hours later, he took it out to save the bond bill from rejection. …”

Read more from the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.

November 6, 2009 · Filed Under Water Legislation

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