Gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner said more water storage is critical for California's long-term economic future. But as he campaigned today in Fresno, Poizner remained noncommittal about an $11 billion water bond measure on the ballot for next November.
Poizner (left, at the state's spring 2009 Republican Convention), who currently serves as the state's insurance commissioner, didn't directly address the bond as he spoke to about four dozen Fresno Chamber of Commerce members this afternoon. "We need to build more dams; I support that," he told the group. "We clearly need to invest in more water storage systems."
But Poizner told reporters before his speech that he and his team continue to evaluate the bond measure that legislators put on next fall's ballot -- the same ballot on which he hopes his name will also appear as the Republican nominee for governor.
"The bond measure has its pluses and minuses, and we're taking a look at all of those," he said. "We need to build more dams in California, and this bond may do that ... but I want to take a closer look."
Tim Sheehan reports on the economy, employment, banking and other business issues for The Fresno Bee. He can be reached at tsheehan@fresnobee.com.
November 19, 2009
Whitman is a yes on water bond
Picking a side in a debate that could split the GOP, gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman has come out in favor of the $11 billion water bond that lawmakers recently placed on the November 2010 ballot.
Whitman initially gave a cautious response to the bond, but her press secretary told The Bee today that the candidate would be voting yes.
"Despite the typical Sacramento actions of including additional spending and pet projects that were included in the final language of the water bill, Meg believes providing water to communities across the state is too important to delay the process once again," Sarah Pompei said in an email. "She will vote in support of the measure on the ballot and will work to fix the broken process in Sacramento as governor."
Ed Eames, the late Fresno resident and activist for the disabled, was honored this week in the Congressional Record. Curiously, it was a Virginia congressman who chose to honor Eames.
In the Record's Nov. 17 issue, as part of what's called Extensions of Remarks, Rep. Robert J. Wittman, R-Va., included an homage to Eames. Before passing away Oct. 25 at the age of 79, Eames had founded the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners. He co-authored two books with his wife Toni and was active in many disability rights issues.
A spokesman for Wittman explained Thursday that one of the congressman's Virginia constituents had worked with Eames in the past and had urged the lawmaker to pay his respects via the Congressional Record.
Howard Gantman is one former spokesman for Sen. Dianne Feinstein who has landed well.
While his one-time colleague Scott Gerber faces a world of hurt for his taping interviews with reporters, while working for state Attorney General Jerry Brown, Gantman has now landed one of Washington, D.C.'s sweetest-sounding P.R. gigs. Gantman is now the vice president of corporate communications in the D.C. office of the Motion Picture Association of America.
Gantman is well known among California reporters, from his long service as Feinstein's communications director and, later, as staff director of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
Assembly Member Mike Villines, R-Clovis, is not ruling out a run to replace state Sen. Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto, who announced yesterday that he won't seek a second term in 2010.
Villines, a former Assembly GOP leader, is busy running for insurance commissioner, where he currently has the GOP field to himself.
"I am currently campaigning hard for insurance commissioner," Villines said in an email interview. "Since this just happened, I will have to evaluate what a Senate run would mean for me, Chris and the kids," he added, referring to his wife.
Benjamin Wagner was sworn in Monday as the new U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California, which includes Fresno.
Wagner, a 49-year-old Democrat, took the oath of office from U.S. District Judge Frank C. Damrell Jr.
Wagner's nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Thursday and signed by President Barack Obama on Friday.
Wagner, a Sacramento resident and a 17-year veteran of the U.S. Attorney's office, replaces McGregor Scott, who resigned in January. Larry Brown served as the interim U.S. attorney between Scott and Wagner.
Since 2000, Wagner has served as chief of the Special Prosecutions Unit, which is responsible for prosecuting public corruption, financial fraud, tax evasion, corporate fraud, cyber crimes, identity theft, and other federal crimes. He has also served as the district anti-terrorism coordinator for the last two years.
National Research Council meets on California water
Efforts to review controversial California water delivery decisions take a step forward Tuesday, as the governing board of the National Research Council meets to formally approve a study. The council is the research arm of the National Academy of Sciences, which was requested by the Commerce and Interior departments to undertake the California water study.
The proposed study would examine two "biological opinions" that restrict irrigation water deliveries in order to protect endangered species.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in a release Monday that:
"The first NAS report will direct particular attention to the water delivery restrictions in the biological opinions and whether there are available alternative actions that would have lesser impacts on water deliveries while still providing equal or greater protection for the species and their designated critical habitat. The NAS report will also look at the extent to which factors other than water pumping (known as "other stressors") are contributing to the collapse of the Bay Delta ecosystem."
This year has been a wild ride for state Sen. Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto.
It was only a little more than eight months ago when he was ousted as Senate GOP leader by colleagues as punishment for signing off on a budget deal that included tax hikes. But he's finishing the year on an upswing. Cogdill is the author of the $11 billion water bond that lawmakers approved this week and voters will consider in November.
As Assembly leaders wrestled for votes to pass an $11 billion water bond early Wednesday morning, Tom Berryhill was resting in his Modesto home.
The Republican assemblyman was bed-ridden, with what he thinks might have been the swine flu. Still, Berryhill, who has a heart transplant, says he was ready to make the more than hour drive to the Capitol, should leaders have needed his vote.
"I was a phone call away from getting up and coming up there," said Berryhill, whose district includes parts of Madera County.
Turns out they didn't need his vote, as the bond squeaked through with the bare minimum votes just before the sun rose after a marathon session.
Republican gubernatorial candidates have been quick to pounce on the Valley's farm water shortage as they stump for votes in the region.
But when the Legislature finally passed an $11 billion water bond this week as part of a larger deal, two of the GOP contenders didn't exactly embrace the deal with open arms --despite strong support for the bond from Valley ag groups.
Democratic congressional candidate Les Marsden needs every dollar he can find in his long-shot challenge to Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa. Nonetheless, Marsden has now reported giving back $3,000 contributed to his campaign by the group Families Protecting the Valley.
For Marsden, this is a big deal. The $3,000 represents a big chunk of the grand total of $13,733 he's reported raising this year. The alternatives, though, weren't very palatable. The Madera-based Families Protecting the Valley bills itself as an organization designed to restore water to the region. Its members include some adamant critics of Radanovich.
Radanovich's staff, in turn, were preparing to file a complaint about the group's contribution to Marsden, on the grounds that Families Protecting the Valley was an ineligible contributor. Rather than fight it out, or face embarrassment, Marsden returned the dough.
Congratulations to Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia, and his wife Elizabeth. At 12:35 a.m. Tuesday, Elizabeth gave birth to Julia Lauren Nunes. Julia weighed in at six pounds, 11 ounces, and both mom and baby are said to be doing well and resting comfortably.
One day after a story ran in The Bee aabout the race for the Malaga County Water District board, an anonymous flyer showed up in mailboxes in Malaga that criticized the two candidates challenging the incumbents. In the story, the challengers questioned a policy that allows current board members to receive an average of $15,000 a year in addition to their regular stipends.
The flyer purports to be a campaign advertisement for the challengers, but it's obvious that's not the case. The flyer says that if Armando Mendez Blancas and Florence M. Valdez are elected on Nov. 3, they will close the district's park, fire staff, and "BRING DISRUPTION TO THE COMMUNITY (AGAIN!)."
Blancas and Valdez were both recalled from their seats on the district's board in 2005 after they voted to lay off workers at the water district because of budget constraints. The flyer goes on to say: "WE WILL TAKE AWAY ALL THE GOOD THAT THE CURRENT BOARD HAS PROVIDED FOR MALAGA. WE WILL PROMISE TO MAKE YOUR LIFE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY A LIVING NIGHTMARE."
It's signed: "Thank you, Happy Halloween."
In a note to The Bee, Blancas wrote: "This is the kind of thing that happens when you speak out against them."
The policy that was criticized by Blancas and Valdez says that board members are entitled to health insurance benefits valued at $900 to $1,200 per month, even though they meet just twice a month. Those who already are insured can receive an in-lieu payment instead. All five board members take the in-lieu payments.
Last year, the Fresno County Grand Jury issued a report that criticized the board for its in-lieu payments.
The point is this: It's just real tough to find the right mix of water policy changes and financing that wins enough votes to pass the Senate and Assembly.
Lobbyists who have done the math say so. And water negotiations have progressed to
the point where vote counting has begun.
These are busy, distracting times for Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia. Amid increasing national attention to the San Joaquin Valley's water woes -- the CBS show "60 Minutes" is promoting an upcoming program, and on Wednesday Nunes was being interviewed by ABC television crews -- Nunes and other lawmakers are awaiting House action on a health care bill.
But that's not what is really on his mind. Nunes's wife is due to deliver their second child any day now -- the due date is on or about Nov. 7 -- and the congressman has been preparing to jet from East Coast to West Coast to join her for the delivery. Which gives Nunes one more reason to be irritated at House Democratic leaders, who hold the congressional schedule in their hands.
Pete Parra, the father of former Assembly Member Nicole Parra, said Tuesday that he's going to challenge Sen. Dean Florez's mother, Fran, for a South Valley Assembly seat.
The Democratic primary match-up in June will pit two families that have feuded for years. Parra's intentions also signal that Republican incumbent Danny Gilmore probably is not running again.
It appears former Fresno Mayor Jim Patterson has the itch to get back into politics. Some local Republicans, he says, are pushing him to scratch that itch.
Among the tantalizing possibilities are a 19th Congressional District challenge of Rep. George Radanovich, who like Patterson is a Republican. It's no secret that some local Republicans have grown frustrated with Radanovich and want him replaced.
Another possibility is running for the 29th Assembly District, where Clovis Republican Mike Villines will be termed out next year.
"I have had encouragement to be back in public life, both in Congress and in the Assembly," Patterson says. "I have been recruited for both. Those are the wishes of other people. They are not mine necessarily."
Patterson says business commitments mean he can't consider anything until January. But the political veteran -- who served two terms as Fresno's mayor, then ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2002, losing in a three-way primary election to Visalia Republican Devin Nunes -- leaves no doubt that he is interested.
There are 535 members of Congress in Washington, D.C. and 120 legislators in Sacramento who are making decisions that will affect his grandchildren, Patterson says.
UPDATE, 5:20 p.m.: Gilmore just released this statement:
"I have dedicated my life to public service. First as a United States Marine and then as a California Highway Patrolman for 31 years.
I have been open about my frustrations with how the Legislature is run. It is a privilege to serve with my Republican colleagues who have provided enormous support throughout this process.
The filing deadline for running for reelection is not until March of 2010. Candidly, I would probably not seek reelection if I had to make that decision today. I am still discussing this important decision with my family and members of the community that I have served for all these years.
Regardless of the decision that is ultimately made, I will keep working very hard and continue my efforts to improve life for the people of the 30th Assembly District. I remain committed to continuing to provide the best possible constituent service for the people of my district."
Valley political junkies might soon get the match up they've been dying for: Parra vs. Florez.
Rumors are swirling today that Hanford Republican Danny Gilmore might not seek a second Assembly term in 2010. And if he leaves, the father of Nicole Parra might take on state Sen. Dean Florez's mother, Fran, in a race that would pit two families that have feuded for years.
"If there aren't any serious challengers to [Fran Florez], then he would seriously consider running against her," Nicole Parra said of her father, Pete.
SACRAMENTO -- One of the state's most powerful unions could soon be weighing in on state water negotiations.
The California Teachers Association is expected to debate its position on a proposed multibillion dollar water bond at the union's regularly scheduled meeting this weekend in Los Angeles. It is unclear if the CTA's State Council will take a formal stance. But some members are worried about any borrowing that might take money from schools, said union spokeswoman Becky Zoglman.
"Anything that could impact the general fund ... is going to be a great concern to our members and educators across the state," she said.
The perennial congressional drive for an Armenian genocide resolution has been renewed, with the introduction of the Senate's latest version on Wednesday.
The non-binding Senate resolution introduced by Republican Sen. John Ensign of Nevada and Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey is akin to a House version previously introduced by Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa. All San Joaquin Valley lawmakers, whose districts include many Armenian-American voters, back the resolution.
The Senate resolution includes various findings and past statements concerning the Armenian genocide; the House version is currently backed by 130 co-sponsors. Still, the political fate is very uncertain. Strongly opposed by Turkey, and traditionally opposed in past administrations by the Pentagon and State Department, the resolution goes further in its language than President Barack Obama was willing to go in April with his annual Armenian statement. Then, Obama avoided using the term "genocide," an omission that reversed course from his campaign statements.
Gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner said more water storage is critical for California's long-term economic future. But as he campaigned today in Fresno, Poizner remained noncommittal about an $11 billion water bond measure on the ballot for next November.![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=3951e142-a7b3-4858-8570-a5613d90a321)
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