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.

[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.")

[FOG724]

I've already sent out an announcement to Grange groups that we need to opose this. Your posts on this will be helpful. I need to put these together with policy and resend it out.

[calcowgirl]

Infrastructure?

  (f) Lake Tahoe water quality improvements. Not less than two
hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) of the funds made available by
this article shall be for projects to meet state obligations under
the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Plan.

[calcowgirl]

Well, this particular piece of legislation died last night. But since it was supposedly previously "negotiated" with the Wilsonegger Gang, I am sure whatever gets proposed next will have many of the same elements. People need to start dissecting it now and highlighting all of the issues.

I am remembering one of these big borrowing schemes (Prop 57/58, IIRC) that they passed at the last minute and left only one day for public comment. It appears they are trying to do the same here.

[goldstategop]

In plain English, no dams on the rivers feeding Lake Tahoe - and no water reservoirs to hold the run-off in anticipation of the cruel vagaries of Mother Nature. We're a desert state faced with perpetual water shortages and droughts. So are they actually planning to store water for lean times? No, if what the Lake Tahoe money is any indication, its not going to go to dams or to build water reservoirs. Neither object is even mentioned in the authorizing clause. What was that again about infrastructure? This one is good for a laugh.

(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]

Yep. At least the last scheme was to ostensibly close their self-created budget deficit. For that reason voters bought it. Anyway, this one is completely different. It will pile on a huge amount of debt just when we're making progress trying to pay off the existing debt. And to add insult to injury, they've thrown in a lot of stuff UNRELATED to infrastructure because they think the voters won't read the fine print. Whatever they come up with next, it helps to remember that the devil is literally hiding in the details.

(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]

But you won't find our leaders taking the time to address it along with other concerns that we have.

The Wilsonegger gang obviously won't answer that question. To do so would disclose too many things that will negatively impact their status with the various demographics they are targeting for support. For them it's obviously a can of worms best left untouched.

The CRP is so invested in the gang that not only will they not answer that question, they are now trying to stop the question from even being publicly voiced.

There is a ray of hope. Hope foretold by last night's events. Write to your representative and ask the same question. If he's a Republican, he's probably asked Ackerman and McCarthy the same question and gotten the same cold shoulder or the same song and dance that we've been asked to believe by the Bobbsey twins on this forum topic.

[SierraWasp]

This just adds on to the multi-millions currently used to fund Eldorado County's on-going program of Tahoe basin drainage projects to "KEEP TAHOE BLUE." (that's the bumpersnicker) They build settlement basins along the roads, rock line ditches and mucho stuff like that to slow down the erosion into the lake to retain the clarity levels that fluctuate no matter what they do!!!

IMO it's a flat boondawgle that El Dorado County loves as it keeps people on the payroll that they can borrow from for other projects as needed and keeps their little empire at county DOT intact!!!

I told you guys they'd use these bonds for envirowhacko crappola! And what doesn't get squandered on non-science non-sense will be blown on EnvironMental Impact Reports (EIR's) to comply with the CA EnvironMental Quality Act (CEQA) and EnvironMental Impact Statements (EIS's) to comply with the National EnvironMental Protection Act (NEPA) and to pay for EnvironMental Attorney's FEEs for their pissant lawsuits, whether they win, lose, or draw... or for EnvironMental Consulting Firms that have sweetheart non-bid contracts with cities, counties or special districts!!!

It's just gonna squander the whole bogus wad of bizzare bondage!!! BOHICA!!!

Oh! By the way... the clarity of Lake Tahoe is damaged far more from the high protein of pine tree pollen washing down into the lake from both the impervious surfaces of parking lots AND saturated undeveloped slopes.

And one other thing about erosion... How do you think all the buildable land in the Tahoe Basin go to be there in the first place... Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm???

[SierraWasp]

"Included in that list is the state's newest and largest conservancy, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy"

And STILL I see some on here wanting so desperately to try to make us worry about what Angelides will do so we'll over look what Wilsonegger has ALREADY DONE!!!

Even though this bullet just whizzed past our right ears... I makes it pretty danged clear what the GANG-GREEN Governator has intended from the very git-go from his Recall Campaign Web-site!!!

He just adores being used by Robert Kennedy, Jr. and his infamous Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) GANG-GREEN EnvironMental-whacko.org

[Amerigomag]

How do you think all the buildable land in the Tahoe Basin go to be there in the first place...

For an ostensibly good ole boy who never once claimed an MS in geomorphology, you sure do savvy the obvious, hidden in plain sight.

I love it! Spot on! Keep the pearls coming!

[calcowgirl]

  5096.900.  The sum of one billion four hundred million dollars
($1,400,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation to the
Department of Parks and Recreation, in accordance with the following
schedule:

   (a) The sum of six hundred million dollars ($600,000,000) for the
rehabilitation, restoration, enhancement, protection, acquisition,
and development of the state park system. It is the intent of the
Legislature that first priority for funding shall be for deferred
maintenance projects, development projects to complete and expand
visitor facilities, and restoration projects. Not more than 20
percent of the funds made available by this subdivision may be used
for acquisition.

(snip)

   5096.910.  The sum of three hundred thirty million dollars
($330,000,000) shall be available, upon appropriation therefor, to
state conservancies that provide regional parks and recreational
areas, in accordance with the particular provisions of the statute
creating each conservancy, for acquisition, development, restoration,
and interpretation, and for grants for these purposes, according to
the following schedule:  
                                                   
 (a) To the Baldwin Hills                          
 Conservancy (Division 22.7                        
 (commencing with Section 32550)) ...  $40,000,000 
                                                   
 (b) To the San Gabriel and Lower                  
 Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains                  
 Conservancy (Division 22.8                        
 (commencing with Section 32600)) ...  $40,000,000 
                                                   
 (c) To the San Francisco Bay Area                 
 Conservancy Program (Chapter 4.5                  
 (commencing with Section 31160) of                
 Division 21) .......................  $40,000,000 
                                                   
 (d) To the Santa Monica Mountains                 
 Conservancy (Division 23                          
 (commencing with Section 33000)) ...  $40,000,000 
                                                   
 (e) To the Sierra Nevada                          
 Conservancy (Division 23.3                        
 (commencing with Section 33300))....  $40,000,000 
                                                   
 (f)  To the California Tahoe                      
 Conservancy (Title 7.42 (commencing               
 with Section 66905) of the                        
 Government Code) ...................  $40,000,000 
                                                   
 (g) To the Coachella Valley                       
 Mountains Conservancy (Division                   
 23.5 (commencing with Section                     
 33500)) ............................  $40,000,000 
                                                   
 (h) To the San Joaquin River                      
 Conservancy (Division 22.5                        
 (commencing with Section 32500)) ...  $40,000,000 
                                                   
 (i) To the San Diego River                        
 Conservancy (Division 22.9                        
 (commencing with Section 32630)) ...  $10,000,000