Based on the lack of money for dams in the flood protection plan, riling many Central Valley legislators, it might not be a bad idea to drop inadequate legislation for this year; as bad as that is concerning the urgency of the problem.
Halfway measures, as we saw in New Orleans and what we have been limping by on for decades, really isn’t much good anymore.
Public leadership needs to look at optimal solutions and then work to make those happen.
An excerpt.
Builders' clout cited as flood bills stall
By Jim Sanders -- Bee Capitol Bureau Published 12:01 am PDT Friday, August 25, 2006
When Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata shelved a package of bills touted as a way to reduce Central Valley flood risk, a well-heeled special interest could breathe a little easier this week.
The California Building Industry Association and other development interests had fought hard against Assembly Bill 1899, which became the lightning rod in Perata's decision to kill the entire eight-bill package.
Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, said the building industry has become increasingly powerful since Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger took office.
"Let me put it this way: The governor is the tractor, and they're working the gears," Florez said. "And you can quote me."
Perata, in explaining his decision to shelve the flood package, cited last-minute amendments by Schwarzenegger to AB 1899 that he said would weaken the bill, favored developers and were unacceptable.
"We're not going to go through all this (wrangling) and not have a tough-enough law," he said.
Rather than try to rush through negotiations before the Legislature adjourns next Thursday, Perata said it would be better to kill the entire package and start over when lawmakers return next year.
"I've been here long enough to know that we usually don't do things well when we do things rushed," Perata said.
