Perata to Schwarzenegger: You've Failed Twice This Week on California's Water Crisis

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) sent a sharply worded letter to Governor Schwarrzenegger today accusing the Governor and Republicans legislators of irresponsibly opposing "legislation, holding the needs of our state hostage in an attempt to leverage billions of dollars for new dams in Republican districts."

The letter notes that not a single Republican supported SB 2XX that Perata had worked hard to negotiate in the special session with "almost universal support from water districts, local governments, business leaders and conservation groups." It ends with a reference to the Governor's advice to the California Republican Party that they were not “filling the seats” because they were following a narrow agenda, saying: "As your predecessor will tell you, there are worse things in politics than empty seats. In a crisis, Californians rightly expect their leaders to set partisan agendas aside and respond to the problems at hand."

On Monday, Perata said the Governor was not listening to the will of the voters when he vetoed SB 1002, passed in the regular session, to spend money from bonds approved by the voters last year in Propositions 1E and 84 because they did not specifically authorize dams. Here is what Perata said on Monday:

“The Governor’s rejection of SB 1002 contradicts the wishes of Californians, who voted overwhelmingly last fall to provide $9.5 billion to fund levee repairs, flood management and other desperately needed improvements to bolster the state’s water system and keep our economy strong.

“SB 1002 would have appropriated $611 million from voter-approved Propositions 1E and 84 to immediately improve the beleaguered Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta, the focal point of the state’s water delivery system. The Delta’s deteriorating condition could force water rationing and higher water bills for millions of Californians next year, if we do not act fast to restore its viability.

“The legislation also would have provided more than $100 million to clean up groundwater contamination and protect supplies of clean, safe drinking water.

“The Governor says he vetoed SB 1002 because he wants a comprehensive plan for dealing with the state’s growing water crisis. But the plan the Governor is prescribing – dams and a peripheral canal – was not what voters passed in Propositions 1E and 84.

“I am disappointed that the Governor has ignored the will of voters.”