Rep. Mary Bono Mack talks about Salton Sea restoration and the federal government’s role

Representative Mary Bono Mack, heading back to Washington, shares her thoughts on the role of the federal government in Salton Sea restoration in this interview in the Desert Sun:

Q. Do you think the Salton Sea will get more federal attention in the new Congress and with the new Obama administration?

A. Let me say something about my colleagues, Sens. (Barbara) Boxer and (Dianne) Feinstein. We got $30million in the last water bill for the Salton Sea. The problem is really not the federal government as much as it is the state government.

The QSA legislation put the ball in the state’s court. They’re not playing with it; they’re sitting back and punting it.

(State) Sen. Denise Ducheny has done a fantastic job. She’s been a great partner.

The solution has to begin with local control of the sea. If we can push legislation at the federal level that puts control at the Salton Sea Authority level, I will do that.

I’m happy to have the Army Corps of Engineers involved. They are excited to get involved and actually move dirt and implement a solution, if we can all come to agreement.

The problem with the Salton Sea is the state budget crisis, and the federal budget crisis second to that.

The perfect has become the enemy of the good. Everybody wants the perfect Salton Sea solution, and they don’t realize there is no perfect solution. At some point in time, we need to sign off, because there is a timeline for the sea. It’s going to be completely dead before we can get a project if we don’t move soon.

Read the full text of the interview with Mary Bono Mack by clicking here.

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