Friday’s top of the scroll: Central Valley water pump wars continue on Capitol Hill

From McClatchy News:

“San Joaquin Valley lawmakers and the Obama administration’s top irrigation official clashed Thursday over proposals to speed up Valley water projects.

Valley lawmakers want stimulus funds to build fish screens and other facilities that boost irrigation deliveries. They also want taxpayers and not local farmers to pay the bill for helping the drought-ridden region.

“This is a devastating situation for my part of the world,” Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, told a House subcommittee. “We have to take every possible step we can.”

Legislation authored by Cardoza and Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, would redirect some of the $787 billion economic stimulus package approved last February to California water projects. The new federal funds, whose exact amount is not specified, would replace the standard cost-share requirement typically imposed on local water districts that benefit from federal projects. … “

Read more from McClatchy News by clicking here.

From the New York Times:

” … But Republicans at the Water and Power Subcommittee hearing dismissed the measure as inadequate, railing against Democrats for rejecting proposals to waive the Endangered Species Act restrictions and immediately allow more water for farmers.

Democrats have asserted that waiving ESA is an inappropriate way to address the drought, pushing instead for conservation and recycling measures and for a comprehensive look at how California can better manage its water resources.

“This committee’s inaction has forced thousands of Californians to seek relief in food lines,” said Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.). “The valley that has fed the world is now the valley that must rely on communist China for food rations. The people of the San Joaquin Valley do not want welfare, they do not want your bailouts, and they do not want your communist carrots.”

Subcommittee ranking member Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) said Costa’s bill would provide no help to farmers in the short term.

“There is nothing I can find in this bill before us today that will restore water deliveries to the Central Valley this year,” McClintock said. “Nothing.” … “

Read more from the New York Times by clicking here.

Photo of Capitol Hill by flickr photographer wallyg (Creative Commons).

Comments

Admin

• Log in

Credits

Powered by Vertigo & WordPress
WordPress Themes by Brian Gardner