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.

[goldstategop]

I'd like any one on this thread to tell me what THAT has to do with infrastructure development.

(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]

  (n) Six hundred fifty million dollars ($650,000,000) shall be
deposited in the Regional Planning, Housing, and Infill Incentive
Account, which is hereby created in the fund. Funds in the account
shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, and
subject to such other conditions and criteria as the Legislature may
provide in statute, for the following purposes:
   (1) For grants for preservation of open space, acquisition of
wildlife habitat, and easements on agricultural land consistent with
mitigation and growth policies contained in a regional growth plan.
   (2) For infill incentive grants for capital outlay related to
infill development, including, but not limited to, all of the
following:
   (A) Urban park creation, development, or rehabilitation.
   (B) Water, sewer, or other public infrastructure costs associated
with infill development.
   (C) Transportation improvements related to infill development
projects.
   (D) Traffic mitigation.
   (3) For brownfield cleanup that promotes infill development
consistent with regional and local plans.

[goldstategop]

I put principle before party. That's why I didn't vote last November. I can't see a good reason to just vote for a candidate with a R beside their name if that person advances an agenda inimical to our values of morality, limited government and freedom. For those who insist on blind partisan loyalty at all costs, the thing that matters is simply winning. And what will we win if we lose our soul but mortgage California's future? That would be truly irresponsible of conservatives.

(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.")

[FOG724]

I'd like any one on this thread to tell me what THAT has to do with infrastructure development.

FO will be along with your kool-aid later.

[goldstategop]

ROFL. No contract and not even an itemized receipt. Sweet!

(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]

Land Grab!!!

Yup, we've absolutely got to have those setback levees on the lower Sacramento and those preserves on the San Joaquin to return California to its Golden Age and provide safe acreage, with a view, for our big donors to develop.

[calcowgirl]

   (p) (1) One billion four hundred fifty million dollars
($1,450,000,000) to be deposited in the Affordable Housing Account,
which is hereby created in the fund. The money in the account shall
be continuously appropriated in accordance with the following
schedule:

(snip)

   (D) One hundred thirty-five million dollars ($135,000,000) shall
be transferred to the Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Fund to
be expended for farmworker housing programs authorized by Chapter
3.2 (commencing with Section 50517.5) of Part 2 of Division 31 of the
Health and Safety Code.

[FOG724]

The news just doesn't get better does it?

[FOG724]

Exactly!!!

[goldstategop]

Who says they're interested in fixing anything? We're like the unwanted little brother at these proceedings and hey, if that's their attitude towards us, I don't see why we owe them a thing. When they're serious about actually wanting to get our state's house in order, they know our address.

(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]

..tell me what THAT has to do with ..

We're assuming the question is rhetorical.

[goldstategop]

I can't make sense of all the verbose nonsense. I'm not a lawyer. But I think it has something to do with smart growth, dictated from Sacramento. At least that's my impression here. I still don't see what this has to do with infrastructure.

(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]

When they're serious about actually wanting to get our state's house in order, they know our address.

Worth repeating!

[calcowgirl]

   5096.825.  Not less than three hundred million dollars
($300,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation to the
department or the board, for the protection, creation, and
enhancement of flood protection corridors and bypasses through all of
the following actions:
   (a) Acquiring easements and other interests in real property to
protect or enhance flood protection corridors and bypasses while
preserving or enhancing the agricultural use of the real property.
   (b) Constructing new levees necessary for the establishment of a
flood protection corridor or bypass.
   (c) Setting back existing flood control levees and, in conjunction
with undertaking those setbacks, strengthening or modifying existing
levees and weirs.
   (d) Relocating or floodproofing structures necessary for the
establishment of a flood protection corridor.
   (e) Acquiring interests in real property located in a floodplain
that cannot reasonably be made safe from future flooding.
   (f) Acquiring easements and other interests in real property to
protect or enhance flood protection corridors while preserving or
enhancing the wildlife value of the real property.

[goldstategop]

Housing for farmworkers.... they can't buy it themselves so Sacramento will buy it for them with our taxpayer dollars. This isn't something that benefits the public at large. Sistuh, this is a PRIVATE benefit and has NO PLACE in a public infrastructure plan.

(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]

Smart growth, Agenda 21, yes. But it also has to do with graft. Follow the money. See who owns these "brownfield" sites. You will find them among the list of large donors to our "esteemed" State representatives.

[goldstategop]

Yes and no. Yes in that its rhetorical and no in that there's a legitimate issue raised here. But you won't find our leaders taking the time to address it along with other concerns that we have.

(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]

Of course... there's a feeding frenzy aspect to this as well and what it makes unsavory is every special interest demanding its cut of the spending pie. And as for the larger donors contributions to the politicians all we can say for certain is the public interest will come dead last in the scheme of things.

(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]

The news just doesn't get better does it? Nope.

 
  5096.870.  (a) The sum of five hundred million dollars
($500,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation to the
department, for grants for the development and implementation of
integrated regional water management projects.

(snip)

   (c) Projects that may be funded pursuant to this section shall
meet all of the following requirements:

   (1) Be consistent with an adopted integrated regional water
management plan.
   (2) Provide multiple benefits.
   (3) Include one or more of the following project elements:
   (A) Water supply reliability, water conservation, or water use
efficiency.
   (B) Storm water capture, storage, cleanup, treatment, and
management.
   (C) Removal of invasive nonnative species, the creation and
enhancement of wetlands, or the acquisition, protection, and
restoration of open space or watershed lands.
   (D) Nonpoint source pollution reduction, management, and
monitoring.
   (E) Groundwater recharge and management projects.
   (F) Contaminant and salt removal through reclamation, desalting,
and other treatment technologies and conveyance of reclaimed water
for distribution to users.
   (G) Water banking, exchange, reclamation, or improvement of water
quality.
   (H) Planning and implementation of multipurpose flood management
programs.
   (I) Watershed protection and management.
   (J) Drinking water treatment and distribution.
   (K) Ecosystem and fisheries restoration and protection.
  

[goldstategop]

We need more land to accomodate an exploding population and what is the first thing Sacramento does? Put more of it off limits to development. It isn't even smart growth. Its dumb growth.

(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.")