Democrats Quarrel While Kids Die (Crazy California Alert)

The Fresno Bee ^ | August 22, 2003 | Jennifer M. Fitzenberger

[Saundra Duffy]

SACRAMENTO -- The political tornado surrounding the defeat of a key clean-air bill intensified Thursday with sharply worded letters to Democratic lawmakers accused of tanking the measure to help a colleague. Sen. Dean Florez fired letters to Assembly Members Nicole Parra, D-Hanford, and Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, after the bill to end the agriculture industry's historic exemption from air operating permits was held up Wednesday in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

[Saundra Duffy]

Here's the editorial from today's Fresno Bee. Normally, I HATE EVERYTHING THE FRESNO BEE STANDS FOR!! However, if your granddaughter suffered from asthma, and if your town's air was this bad, YOU'D BE PISSED TOO!! Here's the editorial with which I wholeheartedly agree:

Taking care of No. 1 Political careers more important to some leaders than Valley's children.

(Published Friday, August 22, 2003, 5:03 AM)

The state's agricultural industry opened its long-anticipated offensive against clean-air legislation on several fronts this week. Among the casualties were the integrity of a number of elected representatives, both locally and in Sacramento. Boards of supervisors in Fresno, Merced, Tulare and Kings counties did the industry's bidding earlier in the week, voting to oppose several of the eight clean-air bills offered by state Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter.

Then the dance -- superbly well choreographed by ag industry lobbyists -- shifted to the Democrat-controlled state Assembly. There SB 700, the linchpin of the Florez package, failed to make it out of the Appropriations Committee on Wednesday.

Much of the blame for that falls directly on South Valley Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford.

Parra is widely regarded as the most vulnerable Democrat in the Legislature. She ran in a heavily Democratic and Hispanic district and barely edged an underfunded GOP opponent in 2002. Since then she has pandered ceaselessly to the rural, conservative interests in her district. She doesn't want to have to vote on a bill the ag industry opposes so vehemently, so she and others helped derail it in committee.

That's shameful. Parra is putting her own hopes for re-election ahead of the health of the Valley's children. And it won't help: The Republicans will still come after her seat next year -- and she may be handing them a victory.

A curious note: One of the "no" votes on the Appropriations Committee came from Democratic Assemblyman Leland Yee, who represents that bastion of farm interests, rural values and rock-ribbed conservatism, San Francisco.

Here's what it says on Assemblyman Yee's Web site: "When it comes to advocating for our children ... nobody has been stronger and more effective than Leland Yee."

Right -- except "our children" clearly doesn't include those who live here in the Valley. Thanks for nothing, Mr. Yee.

LASTGASP

"We can't go on living this way.

And we won't."

Elected representatives betray the health of Valley residents for the sake of self-interest.

[Saundra Duffy]

Fresno has one of the highest asthma rates of anywhere in the U.S. Kids are literally dying while democrats play these ridiculous games. DEMOCRATS ARE DANGEROUS!!!! It's not bad enough that Nicole Parra is sitting there in the State Assembly BECAUSE OF VOTER FRAUD. She has to add insult to injury by putting our kids in harms way BECAUSE SHE'S AFRAID TO STAND UP AND VOTE!!! Sheeeeesh!!!

[philetus]

[John Jorsett]

Interesting thing I read today. The top five "dirtiest air" cities in the U.S. are in California. Remember the 2000 campaign, when Houston became the city with the dirtiest air, and Bush critics went nuts saying that as governor he was responsible? Heard anything like that about Davis? Nah.

[boris]

"Here's the editorial from today's Fresno Bee. Normally, I HATE EVERYTHING THE FRESNO BEE STANDS FOR!! However, if your granddaughter suffered from asthma, and if your town's air was this bad, YOU'D BE PISSED TOO!! Here's the editorial with which I wholeheartedly agree:"

So it's for the chilllldren, at which point rational discourse goes out the window.

Q: How many children will suffer from higher prices on fruits and vegetables caused by irrational legislation like this?
Q: Can your granddaughter move?

Q: Who was there first--the farmers or you?

--Boris

[Saundra Duffy]

The top five "dirtiest air" cities in the U.S. are in California.

And who runs the state?

[Saundra Duffy]

Q: Can your granddaughter move?

She's 11 years old and all of us are relatively poor. I am not her parent so I can't make decisions about where they live. If I were the parent, and if I could afford it, I'd get the heck out of here and move to one of those clear-air places. You better believe it.

[Camber-G]

From the editorial ... The Republicans will still come after her seat next year -- and she may be handing them a victory...

What will be the Republican stand on this issue in the next election ?

[Saundra Duffy]

Q: Who was there first--the farmers or you?

There are many factors causing the air around here to be so bad - not just farming. But we need to do whatever it takes to clean this mess up.

Dean Florez - who is the only decent democrat in this state - has a good heart and the best interests of his constituents in mind. This is all about saving Nicole Parra's political career. The ag industry would crucify her if she voted for clean air. Meanwhile, our kids are gagging.

I think it's just so ironic. The democrats - FOR THE CHILDREN - IT TAKES A VILLAGE - AND ALL THAT CRAP - They couldn't care less about kids.

[NormsRevenge]

Mr. YeeGads!!!! Parra for the course!!! In Stinkymento, where the manure aroma lingers all year long.

Despicable, shameless pricks...

[Saundra Duffy]

What will be the Republican stand on this issue in the next election ?

The Republican (Dean Gardner) - who "lost" by 265 votes and who can prove over 900 votes were illegally cast - will make the point that Nicole Parra IS AFRAID TO TAKE A STAND!!! She's trying to have it both ways. She has abstained on some key votes. She's trying to look like a conservative but everyone knows she's a liberal. Here's hoping Dean Gardner will kick her sorry butt right out of Sacramento next time around.

[Saundra Duffy]

You make me laugh!! (Thanks, I needed that.) But on the serious side: My grandaughter has had to miss lots of school due to asthma attacks. It's no fun.

[Saundra Duffy]

Anger Management for democrats. LOL! Great cartoon! Thanks.

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.

[ElectricRook]

Am I the only lurker who noticed that the lawmakers were "Smoking on the balcony"? That balcony is inside the building . This is the only public building in all of California where smoking is legal. For you non-californians, smoking is illegal in all public buildings, and work places, bars and restaurants included.

I'm not a smoker, nor is my spouse, children, parents, etc. But I do find it ironic that the Califronia Legislature has one set of laws for themselves, and another for the proletariat.

P.S. The Califronia Legislature seems to be immune from Sexual Harassment Laws too.

[jeffrhodes]

Find a camera Florez is just upset he can't have his way. Thank you Phil Larson and the rest of the board for standing up to this anti farming publicity hound. He is not a "good" Democrat. He votes consistently for higher taxes. I casted a proud vote for Blair Knox. Don't get taken in by this guy Saundra.

[marsh2]

Under the traditional "police powers," the government has the right to absolutely forbid any use of private property that can be proven to cause ("proximate cause,") substantial injury to the general public's health and safety. Because it can forbid, government can also "permit" the use conditioned on reasonable mitigations to eliminate or reduce the harm or danger of harm. This supposedly forms the basis of regulation in America where the individual supposedly has the right to use, enjoy and dispose of privately owned property.

The public may also commandeer the use of resources or property for its own legitimate public purposes, but it must pay just compensation to make the owner whole for the loss.

Question would seem to be whether there is a direct cause and effect between fugitive dust and any substantial injury to the general public health that can be mitigated with reasonable conditions of use.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[hattend]

I still believe the asthma epidemic is caused by kids sitting in front of video games all day and not getting enough exercise outside.

They can't go outside because the perverts who should be in jail are out stalking the streets. Kids can't get rigorous exercise or get out of breath at school because schools are cutting back on activity sports ("What do you mean I can't play team dodgeball?") and PE programs.

Their lungs can't develop and build immunity to outside irritants.

I grew up in Redding, California (50's through 70's).

Closed in on all 3 sides by mountains, when the south wind kicked up it got pretty bad, smogwise, in the Summer. I can't recall ever meeting an asthmatic kid growing up.

Having visited LA in the 60's and having lived there for 2 years in the 90's I can honestly say the air quality is much better nowadays (yeah, it's still bad on certain days, though)

Anyway, my 2 cents theory. YMMV BTTT.

[blackie]

Be Well ~ Be Armed ~ Be Safe ~ Molon Labe!