GOP Push Uses California Drought Emergency To Enrich Corporate Farms And Wreck Environmental Protections

Tuesday the House passed David Valadao's misleadingly-named California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2014, 230-182. It was co-sponsored by 6 clueless right-wing California Republican ideologues, Ken Calvert, Paul Cook, Doug LaMalfa, Kevin McCarthy, Tom McClintock and Devin Nunes, plus the most right-wing fake Democrat in the California delegation, Blue Dog Jim Costa. Every Republican voted for it and Costa was joined by 5 of his fellow reactionary Blue Dogs who generally back conservative Republican approaches: John Barrow (GA), Jim Matheson (UT), Mike McIntyre (NC), Nick Rahall (WV)-- all defeated last month or forced into retirement-- and Collin Peterson (MN), Big Ag's Democratic shill.

Opposition was led by Northern California Democrats John Garamendi, Mike Thompson, George Miller, Jerry McNerney and Doris Matsui, who complained that the legislation was introduced on December 2nd and rushed to the House Floor without any committee review or input from any state or federal water agencies, fishing interests, or tribes. It mandates the pumping of Delta water to South of the Delta. In a joint statement, the 5 Democrats explained that "[t]his deeply flawed legislation is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to use the drought as an excuse to steal water from the Bay Delta-- and to do so with zero regard for the folks who depend on that water for their livelihoods. It was rushed to the House Floor with no consideration given to the jobs it would destroy, the water supply to urban and rural areas it would jeopardize, environmental protections it would gut, the drinking water it would damage, or the fact that it would do nothing to alleviate the drought. The entire state of California is in a drought. It’s not due to a lack of pumping. It’s due to a lack of snow and rain. If the Majority was interested in actually addressing the drought, there are things we could do to help. Congress can invest in more water conservation, more water recycling, and more water storage. With investments like these, we can collect millions of gallons of new water, ensure urban and rural areas have a reliable water supply, help farmers better plan, and create good jobs. This bill does none of that. Our people deserve better than this politically driven bill. They deserve science-based solutions."

Passage by the Senate, where both Boxer and Feinstein oppose it, isn't likely.

The 26-page bill introduced by freshman Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., that passed the House split lawmakers along lines that were both partisan and regional. The state’s long-standing divisions showed no signs of healing during the many months the water legislation has been discussed; if anything, the divisions appear exacerbated.

“Our collective energies should be devoted to a long-term solution for California’s water needs in a way that rewards working together, as opposed to dividing interests,” John Laird, secretary of the California Department of Natural Resources, wrote Tuesday.

During House debate Monday, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., denounced the “one percent of California” that has “dumped our water out into the ocean,” while Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., decried with equal vehemence the “small number of farmers in the Central Valley” that want to “eviscerate” environmental protections.

All of the Democrats who represent portions of the ecologically sensitive Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta voted against the measure Tuesday. These Democrats say they were cut out from the negotiations. At one point, Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., said House Republicans refused to brief California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer when she insisted on inviting House Democrats.

“It’s a bill intended to help one region of California at the expense of endangered species that can end up hurting millions of dollars worth of commercial fishing interests, farmers, tribes and neighboring states,” Miller said Tuesday.


...The Obama administration has threatened to veto Valadao’s water bill, making the must-pass omnibus measure an even more enticing option. Plans to finish the omnibus bill late Monday fell apart because of a dispute over a terrorism insurance program.

“It’s my hope that we'll reach agreement on legislation that can pass both the House and the Senate and enact a bill that moves water to Californians suffering from the drought and helps all of the state while not waiving environmental protections,” Feinstein said Monday.

Feinstein added that she opposes parts of the House bill that “waive environmental protections,” though in general she has been closely negotiating with GOP lawmakers. Boxer, her Democratic colleague, has been more skeptical.