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If only briefly, lawmakers shine light on water issue: Vote to block more water for habitat is closer than most estimates

Posted by: Maven on June 20, 2009 at 7:38 am

From the Merced Sun-Star:

Central Valley lawmakers this week briefly summoned House attention to the region’s water shortages, challenging the environmental rules that have curtailed irrigation deliveries. Legislatively, the Valley lawmakers failed. By a 218-208 vote Thursday afternoon, the House rejected an amendment by Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia, that would have blocked a federal decision steering more irrigation water into fish habitat protection.

Rhetorically, Nunes and his allies insist they put a useful spotlight on a region they believe has been ignored too long. “It’s OK to value fish, that’s OK,” Nunes said during House debate, “but understand you’re starving families while you value fish.” The vote Thursday was closer than some expected, with 37 Democrats joining all but two Republicans in supporting Nunes.

Democratic Reps. Jim Costa of Fresno, Dennis Cardoza of Merced and Jerry McNerney of Pleasanton voted for the amendment, with Cardoza using his House Rules Committee position to ensure the amendment got a vote on the floor. Republican Rep. George Radanovich of Mariposa also voted for the amendment.

The amendment offered to a $65 billion spending bill would have prohibited federal funds from paying for a set of rules issued June 4 called a “biological opinion.” The National Marine Fisheries Service rules in question cut Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta water diversions by up to 7 percent to protect endangered Chinook salmon and steelhead.

Read more from the Merced Sun-Star by clicking here.

June 20, 2009 · Filed Under Wildlife & Endangered Species

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