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Costa and Cardoza deny health bill for water vote swap

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 19, 2010 at 7:18 am

From KMJ Talk Radio:

“As the big health care reform vote in the house inches closer — accusations are flying against two valley lawmakers accused of taking part in a deal to secure water in exchange for a ‘yes’ vote.

Congressmen Jim Costa has adamantly denied a deal to bring water to Valley farmers in exchange for the ‘aye’ vote on the house version of the bill. A spokesman for Dennis Cardoza also made a denial.

But after Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced the Valley’s water allocation ahead of schedule this week — speculation began brewing that some sort of deal was made by the two valley reps. … “

Click here for KMJ’s coverage, which has audio from Costa and others, and links to relevant videos.

From Investors Business Daily:

“Blue Dog Democrats Costa, who represents California’s 20th Congressional District (Fresno), and Cardoza, who represents the 18th (Stockton to Modesto), are both listed as “undecided” in the upcoming vote on health care reform, whether it be on the Senate bill itself or the “deem and pass” resolution known as the Slaughter rule, after Rules Committee Chairman Louise Slaughter.

The rule subverts the Constitution by allowing the bill to pass without members actually having to vote on it. Interior’s announcement gives Costa and Cardoza something to assuage the wrath of angry constituents just in time for any vote. They chose what was behind door number one.

This isn’t the first time. To get them out of the “undecided” column in last December’s House vote, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic leadership promised $500 million for a new University of California-Merced Medical School. Costa and Cardoza then voted “aye.” … “

Costa and Cardoza answered back in this coverage from the Sacramento Bee:

” … California Republicans are peddling the story that Cardoza and Costa will support the bill in exchange for the Interior Department’s announcement earlier this week that San Joaquin Valley irrigation deliveries would be increased.

“I’m guessing those events are closely linked,” Fox News Channel talker Sean Hannity declared Wednesday night, while the screen text asked beneath a picture of Costa and Cardoza, “Were (California) congressmen bribed with water provision?”

Bribery is a specific crime. It is a felony, distinct from the traditional horse trading and favor-granting that lubricates legislation. Fox presented no evidence of criminal behavior.

Costa and Cardoza, in any event, discounted any connection between their health care votes and the Interior Department’s having advanced its planned water delivery announcement by two weeks. Costa noted that California lawmakers had asked the Interior Department to speed up its water decisions in mid-February.

“This is the season of not telling the truth,” Cardoza said.