CA: Bond includes 'green' money - Environmental causes large part of spending plan

SFGate.com ^ | 3/11/06 | Greg Lucas

[NormsRevenge]

Sacramento -- A giant bond proposal being weighed by state lawmakers has far more in it than billions of dollars to build schools and highways and strengthen California's levees.

Restoration of the Salton Sea, retrofitting diesel school buses, acquiring land and creating urban parks are a few examples of spending included in the most recent version of the bond, which would go before voters in June if lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger can work out a deal in the next couple of days.

"Protection of environmental resources is as much of a long-term investment in California's future as is the construction of public works that provide water or improve transportation or schools," said Tom Graff, regional director of the Environmental Defense Fund in Oakland.

The Senate was slated to meet late Friday night to possibly vote on the proposal, despite Republican opposition -- part of it stemming from some of the bond's spending priorities.

Even if the Senate approves the bond of at least $30 billion, the Assembly is not scheduled to meet until Monday. Lawmakers say Monday is their deadline to place the measure on the June ballot.

While most of the money in the most current draft of the bond is for school construction and modernization, congestion-relief on highways and flood-control projects, Democrats added several billion worth of "green" spending.

"Parks and ocean protection, and especially deferred maintenance, which is almost $1 billion in our state parks, are part of infrastructure because they represent permanent holdings people use. That's what infrastructure is," said Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica and chairwoman of the Natural Resources and Water Committee.

[b9]

That nitwit Phil Angeliedes will bankrupt the state.

[Amerigomag]

Levee repair = widening the Sacramento River channel with setback levees to restore the natural habitat = GREEN

School construction = forcing all of California's tax payers to support the failing LAUSD = SOCIALISM

Road construction = forcing all of California's tax payers to pay for more, local, commuters routes in the LA basin = PAY FOR PLAY

Just say NO to the Wilsonegger Gang. Demand they begin vetoing the spending until California's solvency is restored.

[Amerigomag]

That nitwit Phil Angeliedes will bankrupt the state.

This has NOTHING to do with a Democrat candidate for governor.

This is about a deal between the Wilsonegger Gang and legislative Democrats that legislative Republicans refused to support.

Just say NO to the Wilsonegger Gang as Senate Republicans have just done.

[calcowgirl]

Democrats want roughly $3 billion in spending on land conservancies and state and local parks in the bond. Of that, $1.4 billion would be spent on deferred maintenance, rehabilitation or land acquisition for state and local parks. ...

Included in that list is the state's newest and largest conservancy, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. It would be the first major cash infusion for the agency.

Infrastructure Plan? They no not the meaning of the word.

[Amerigomag]

Eight other conservancies around the state each receive $40 million in the bond. Included in that list is the state's newest and largest conservancy, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. It would be the first major cash infusion for the agency.

A big bullet dodged for now Waspman. At least you can breath easy until Monday. But the Wilsonegger gang and the Democrats only have to co-opt 4 more Republican Assemblymen and that day may come!

So far Rick Keene appears to be holding the Republican Assembly Caucus together but the pressure from McCarthy, Schwarzenegger and the Democrats must be just TREMENDOUS.

[goldstategop]

This is more of wish list for the Left than any sensible infrastructure program. NO Republican should vote for it. What does all this have to do with fixing dams and levees and building new roads and freeways? I can't see it.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[goldstategop]

I hear ya. This is what is called "bait and switch" - a tactic practiced by unethical sellers who offer the popular item at a price to good to be true and then when you come in the store they announce its not in stock at any price and offer to sell you a more profitable, higher priced substitute, at an outrageous mark-up of course. Where's the savings and more important, where's the item you had your heart on buying? This is the Sacramento version of the tactic and its despicable. "Infrastructure plan," indeed.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[calcowgirl]

This is what is called "bait and switch" - a tactic practiced by unethical sellers who offer the popular item at a price to good to be true

Price too good to be true? No new taxes? No one seems to be mentioning this part of last night's legislation (AB 134):

There shall be collected each year and in the same manner
and at the same time as other state revenue is collected, in
addition to the ordinary revenues of the state, a sum in an amount
required to pay the principal of, and interest on, the bonds each
year. It is the duty of all officers charged by law with any duty in
regard to the collection of the revenue to do and perform each and
every act that is necessary to collect that additional sum.

[goldstategop]

That's what I mean. Higher taxes to pay for the bonds! You wonder what else is tucked in there we don't know about. Before one commit oneself to anything, one ought to at least read the terms of the proposal carefully. The Democrats want Republicans to pass a plan full of booby trapped bombs waiting to go off. Its no longer about the bonds any more, sistuh. Its about the Democrats' big government agenda.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Amerigomag]

One can reasonably conclude from recent promotions on the California Topic that only blindly loyal, Republican partisans refuse to acknowledge that bonding, any bonding, is a tax increase or a loss of public benefits, usually essential as opposed to progressive, or both.

AB 134, the trail balloon floated by Schwarzenegger and Nunez, is only confirmation of this practiced myopia.

[goldstategop]

Now, there is a place for judicious borrowing coupled with a specific list of items it will fund and a plan to pay it back. This monstrosity doesn't do neither. I think for these two reasons alone, it deserves to die unmourned, on the vine.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Amerigomag]

The Democrats want Republicans to pass a plan full of booby trapped bombs waiting to go off.

A small, but essential correction is suggested to more accurately portray last evening's events:

The Democrats (and the Wilsonegger gang) want (legislative) Republicans to pass a plan full of booby trapped bombs waiting to go off.

[FOG724]

Thanks to the link to AB 134 Calcowgirl. Look what I found in it.

(6) Ecosystem restoration of riparian habitat along Central Valley streams provides both environmental benefits and direct flood benefits, and can also provide advance mitigation for flood control activities and projects. Development of Natural Community Conservation Plans would greatly improve flood control activities.

Land Grab!!!

[FOG724]

AB 134, the trail balloon floated by Schwarzenegger and Nunez, is only confirmation of this practiced myopia.

Sorry I missed pinging you to post 13.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

16 posts and no obligatory we-must-support-the-GOP-at-all-costs post from FO? A world record.

[calcowgirl]

Before one commit oneself to anything, one ought to at least read the terms of the proposal carefully.

I agree, but it appears the Gang, aided and abetted by the dems, wanted anything but a careful reading. From Bloomberg:

Republican lawmakers complained that they were not given actual paper copies of the proposal when it was introduced shortly after 10:30 p.m. local time. The vote was called after midnight. The Republicans also opposed bond money Democrats proposed for park land and public transit.

"Nearly $50 billion and you only have one copy of the document and you bring it to us at midnight on the night of the deadline," Republican San Diego Senator Dennis Hollingsworth said. "It's a shame."

[Amerigomag]

Now, there is a place for judicious borrowing coupled with a specific list of items it will fund and a plan to pay it back.

A reasoned and accurate statement ... were it not for the 800 lb gorilla that neither the CRP, the Wilsonegger Gang nor the Democrats are willing to acknowledge.... deficit spending through massive borrowing.

When the gang and the Democrats get California's house in order, instead of a headlong rush to political victory flaunting OPMs, then California can approach a solution to 30 years of infrastructure neglect, made intolerable by the massive, illegal migration from Mexico.