On Monday, August 29, 2011, Representative Linda Sanchez (D – CA, 39th District) addressed a crowd at the Water Replenishment District on the state of Federal water-related legislation, jobs programs and the climate in Washington. She stated that Congress’ ban on earmarks has hurt water projects in California and that disunity among the California delegation has led to less effective representation of California in Congress.
From the Whittier Daily News – Article by Ben Baeder
Rep. Linda Sanchez on Monday told a room full of local elected officials that the cessation of Congressional earmarks has taken all the creativity out of water policy.
Sanchez spoke at the Water Replenishment District’s inaugural Capitol Report, a series WRD officials hope will become a regularly occurring forum to discuss water issues with federal officials.
“Every earmark I’ve ever requested, I could stand up hear and defend to the death,” said Sanchez, D-Lakewood.
Sanchez pointed to an earmark that helped fund water-saving berms, called bioswales, that were installed during the recent repaving of Whittier Boulevard – a practical and innovative use of federal dollars, she said.
Sanchez said that legislators from other, wetter, states don’t understand how important water conservation is to Southern California.
Her husband, who is from Connecticut, still lets the water run when he brushes his teeth, she said.
The federal government needs to create a series of incentives to encourage residents and water agencies to better conserve and store water. But she doesn’t see that happening without the ability to insert specific language into spending bills.
The government should create a “Water Star” program that offers tax incentives for water saving, Sanchez said, similar to the Energy Star program. Several states already have programs that recognize and reward water-saving measures.
Earmarks have come under attack in recent years as a symbol of government excess, with critics saying they route money to pet projects rather than national priorities. President Barack Obama has announced opposition to them, and they have become increasingly difficult to advance with House Republicans declaring a ban.
At the meeting, Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District Director Bill Robinson suggested the government fund a program that would give a cash prize to water innovators.
Billionaire English businessman Richard Branson offered a $10 million prize for the first company to make a reliable space ship.
