Posted on 08/22/2006 7:11:05 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO - Senate leaders on Tuesday bottled up a package of flood-protection bills for the year, claiming Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was seeking last-minute amendments they said would weaken the measures.
Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata said the Legislature will wait until next year to address flood policy, saying the governor had sought to derail bills aimed at increasing flood protection from Redding to Bakersfield.
"If we're going to do this, we're going to do this correctly," the Oakland Democrat said.
The Senate's decision angered Assembly Democrats, who said plenty of time remained in this year's session to negotiate a deal.
"We have until Aug. 31 at midnight to enact flood-protection legislation," said Assemblywoman Lois Wolk, D-Davis, who has authored several of the bills. "People are in harm's way, and this body needs to act. I expect them to do the right thing."
A Schwarzenegger spokesman said the governor also hoped to reach a compromise with lawmakers this year.
"Certainly there are policy differences, but we hope to overcome these," Schwarzenegger spokesman Darrel Ng said.
The package consists of eight Assembly bills, including measures that would improve emergency planning and spread government liability if levees break and flood waters damage homes and businesses, according to a list provided by Perata's office.
Senate Democrats said waiting until January would allow lawmakers to devise a comprehensive approach after Californians go to the ballot box this November to vote on a $4.1 billion levee bond. That measure is designed to shore up the state's fragile levee system and is part of the $37.3 billion public works package negotiated by Schwarzenegger and the Legislature.
"So we go in and pass the bills and they're not effective, what have we done?" said Sen. Mike Machado, D-Linden, a leader on water issues. "We feel good because we've got a bill that has the title 'flood control,' but we haven't enhanced the protection for farmland or my mother-in-law or the other people in my district."
However, Assemblyman John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, said the Legislature should pass flood bills before voters are asked to approve the billions in spending on levee repairs.
"Not having any flood-control legislation out of this session is not the way to celebrate the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina," he said.
Laird said he remained hopeful a deal could be worked out.
Nah... Instead, they say "trust us" while they promote that "blank check" known as Prop 1E, the Levee Bond.
What a flaming MESS!!!
Sure isn't gittin much play here, however!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.