By Associated Press writers
Thursday, April 21, 2005
SACRAMENTO (AP) - Two state senators are threatening to pull funding from a joint federal and state agency charged with restoring the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
Democratic Sens. Mike Machado of Linden and Sheila Kuehl of Santa Monica said they would not go along with the California Bay-Delta Authority's $8 billion plan over a decade to protect and improve the delta, which filters water used by 22 million Californians.
"I am increasingly intolerant of what I perceive as a lack of fiscal discipline," Kuehl said at a hearing Tuesday.
The $800 million-a-year finance plan proposes to shift more of the cost to the federal government, water agencies and local governments, and away from state taxpayers who have paid much of the cost.
Congress approved $395 million for CalFed in October, but the two senators, who are instrumental in shaping state water policies, predicted the state will not approve new funds this year. Moreover, CalFed will have to compete with other programs for scarce remaining bond money approved by voters, the senators said.
Machado blamed CalFed Director Patrick Wright for delays establishing water user fees that the authority counts on in its budget.
"Do you ever take a stand on anything?" Machado asked, calling Wright a "spokesman for indecision."
Wright responded that basing the CalFed budget on user fees was in itself a commitment: "This was a big leap. Yeah, we took a stand. Half the water community was violently opposed to this."
The plan calls for shifting about 15 percent of the cost from taxpayers to users. It would cut state funding in half but triple federal funding.
Kuehl criticized Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration for not taking a lead on CalFed's funding plans.
"This administration has to take a more serious interest and a more muscular tone on this," she said.Wright suggested Schwarzenegger will include a fee proposal in the May revision of his proposed budget.
The senators said it is too late for proper legislative oversight, and threatened to strip away state money for CalFed until a complete funding plan is in place.
"CalFed is doomed to a pretty thin gruel for funding this year," Kuehl said.
http://www.sacbee.com/state_wire/story/12756902p-13608282c.html