Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation for DWR personnel of significant news articles and comment
November 9, 2007
1. Top Items
Water bill is Bush's first veto override - Associated Press
Congress overrides Bush water bill veto - Central Valley Business Times
Senate veto override pushes levee project forward - Chico Enterprise Record
Veto override benefits
Bush’s loss could be big gain for Los Osos; Officials don’t yet know how much they may get — it could be$35 million - San Luis Obispo
Millions approved for wetlands project - Lake County Record Bee
Editorial: Finally vetoing a veto; Congress overrules Bush on water bill that would benefit the Delta's levees - Stockton Record
Water bill is Bush's first veto override
Associated Press – 11/9/07
By Charles Babington, staff writer
The 79-14 vote included 34 Republicans who defied the president. Enactment was a foregone conclusion, but it still marked a milestone for a president who spent his first six years with a much friendlier Congress controlled by his Republican Party.
Now he confronts a more hostile, Democratic-controlled legislature, and Thursday's vote showed that most of the Republicans will defy him on spending matters dear to their political careers.
Bush's spokeswoman portrayed the issue as a divide between a budget-conscious president and a big-spending Congress.
"The president is standing up for the taxpayers," White House press secretary Dana Perino said.
"No one is surprised that this veto is overridden. We understand that members of Congress are going to support the projects in their districts. Budgeting is about making choices and defining priorities - it doesn't mean you can have everything. This bill doesn't make the difficult choices; it says we can fund every idea out there. That's not a responsible way to budget."
The bill funds hundreds of Army Corps of Engineers projects, such as dams, sewage plants and beach restoration, that are important to local communities and their representatives.
It also includes money for the hurricane-hit
The House voted 361-54 to override the veto Tuesday. Both votes easily exceeded the two-thirds majority needed in each chamber to negate a presidential veto.
The last such veto override happened when Congress dealt President Clinton the second of his two overrides in February 1998.
Bush vetoed no bills during his first five years in office. He has since vetoed a stem cell research bill twice, an
But they broke ranks on the Water Resources Development Act, or WRDA, which Bush vetoed on Nov. 2, calling it too expensive. Thirty-four Republicans voted with the 43 Democrats and two independents to override the veto. Two Democrats, Sen. Claire McCaskill of
His supporters have noted that the Army Corps has a backlog of $58 billion worth of projects and an annual budget of about $2 billion to address them.
The bill, the first water system restoration and flood control authorization passed by Congress since 2000, would cost $11.2 billion over the next four years, and $12 billion in the 10 years after that, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Flood protection projects along the
Some of Bush's most ardent allies argued for the override. "This bill is enormously important, and it has been a long time coming," said Sen. David Vitter, R-La., whose state was hammered by Hurricane Katrina two years ago.
The bill "is one of the few areas where we actually do something constructive," said Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott, R-Miss. What Bush sees as pork barrel items, Lott said, "are good, deserved, justified projects."
"Almost every president opposes this type of bill," he said.
Democrats are sure to remind such Republicans of their rejection of Bush's budgetary concerns when debate turns to several spending bills he also vows to veto.
Democrats, frustrated by their inability to force Bush's hand on
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said the message to the White House was, "you can't keep rolling over us like this." #
http://www.dailynews.com/search/ci_7410888?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com
Congress overrides Bush water bill veto
The U.S. Senate voted 79-14 Thursday to override a presidential veto of the $23 billion water resources bill. The House of Representatives had voted 361-54 on Tuesday to reject the veto.
It’s the first time a veto by George W. Bush has been overridden by Congress and the first time in 10 years for a congressional override of any presidential veto.
Under the bill, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would get money for projects such as dams, sewage plants and beach restoration. Other funds would address problems caused by Hurricane Katrina along the
Some $1.3 billion would be spent on projects in
In the Central valley, the largest projects is spending $444 million to pay for safety mechanisms and control components on Folsom Dam to control flooding on the Sacramento and American rivers.
Another $106 million would be spent on restoration and maintenance of more than 1,000 miles of levees in the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta.
Also included is $33 million to develop a supplemental water supply for the city of
The major elements of the project include a surface water diversion facility with fish screens on the
The
http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=6940
Senate veto override pushes levee project forward
By Barbara Arrigoni, staff writer
HAMILTON CITY -- Word spread fast among Glenn County folks Thursday morning after the U.S. Senate's voted to override President Bush's veto of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007. The bill authorizes construction of a new setback levee on the Sacramento River near
Although she was on her way to a meeting about a delay in emergency repair to a vulnerable area on the aging J levee, excitement at the news was audible from LeeAnn Grigsby Puente, president of Reclamation District 2140.
"This is very, very, very good!" she said in phone conversation. "We need this, right now."
With the Senate's 79-14 override approval, the $23.2 billion act is now law, allowing flood control projects nationwide and in
The Hamilton City Flood Reduction and Ecosystem Repair Project is included in the new law at a federal cost estimate of $34.1 million, with an $18.3 million state and local share.
That does not mean the government will start spending money on the project. U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., stated in a press release the bill "does not spend a single dollar, but simply authorizes projects and does not appropriate funding."
That means the Corps of Engineers project, now in the design phase, will still face specific funding requests from Congress.
Enactment of the bill is a milestone in a decades-long battle by citizens to replace the J levee, which
But the recent ups and downs in
The House voted 361-64 Tuesday to override the veto.
The votes didn't come as a surprise, said Grigsby-Puente.
Both she and Sheriff Larry Jones said they knew Bush would veto the bill, and were assured by representatives in
Both Feinstein and Sen.Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) voted yes Thursday. Rep. Wally Herger (R-Chico) also voted yes in Tuesday's House vote.
Glenn County Planning Director Dan Obermeyer said he especially credits Herger for voting to override a veto decision by a Republican president.
But even as Obermeyer, Grigsby-Puente and Jones voiced encouragement that the new levee will become a reality, they still faced worries Thursday about the stability of the J Levee.
Emergency repair of a 400-foot area that was eroded severely by winter storms in 2005-06 has been delayed.
Obermeyer told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday the state wants to base its share of the repair cost on line items, while the county wants the share based on the total cost of the project.
He later explained in a phone call the change means a $70,000 share for the county to pay, which it doesn't have. Obermeyer has met with the Reclamation District, The Nature Conservancy and others involved in the repair to obtain material bids that will raise the amount the Department of Water Resources will accept. He said it needs to be about $15 per cubic yard of a type of soil that meets the state specifications.
He said he hopes to be ready by Tuesday for a special Board of Supervisors meeting to accept the state grant.
Meanwhile, trees have been removed at the repair site and equipment mobilized. Rain is expected, but the work can go on as long as it doesn't last longer than a few days.
"We're ready to go," Obermeyer said. "We're that close."
BACKGROUND:
WHAT'S NEW: The U.S. Senate overturned President Bush's veto of the bill that in part authorizes the new setback levee project, enacting the Water Resources Development Act into law.
WHAT'S NEXT: Repair of a critical site on the J levee has been delayed. The repair is a temporary fix meant to keep the levee standing until construction of a new setback levee begins. Construction could start in 2009. #
http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_7413548
Veto override benefits
Desert Sun – 11/9/07
By Diana Marrero, staff writer
The Senate voted to override Bush's veto of a $23 billion water bill, known as the Water Resources Development Act, that sets spending limits for specific projects for flood control and environmental restoration, as well as local drinking water and wastewater treatment plants.
Among the
"The Salton Sea needs all the money it can get," said Dennis Mahr, spokesman for the Coachella Valley Water District, which now leads the local Salton Sea Authority.
The sea is shrinking and will receive less water in the future, creating air quality problems for the Coachella and Imperial valleys.
Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley says the override will help officials "keep our momentum going on the
A Republican and member of the Salton Sea Authority, Ashley praised GOP members who broke ranks with Bush.
"They weren't voting against Bush," he said. "They were voting for a water bill."
Money for the projects isn't a sure thing, however. Funding would need to be inserted into appropriations bills that would be considered next year.
Other valley and
Construction of a wastewater system for the Mission Springs Water District, which serves Desert Hot Springs and the surrounding areas.
A flood study in
A study to determine flood control measures in the
$40 million to establish a statewide program for critical water quality projects.
The 79-14 vote followed a 361-54 vote to overturn Bush's veto in the House on Tuesday, making it possible for the legislation to become law despite Bush's opposition.
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who helped write the bill, said she hopes the votes send a message to the president. She and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., voted for the override.
"You can't just keep rolling over us," said Boxer, chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
Rep. Mary Bono, R-Palm Springs, was among the 138 House Republicans who voted to override the veto Tuesday.
"This federal funding will work in conjunction with local projects already in place to restore the sea," Bono said. "These projects are necessary in order to ensure economic and environmental security in the region."
Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands, joined the 54 Republicans who voted to sustain Bush's veto.
The water bill was the fifth to be vetoed by Bush during his presidency. He said he opposed it because it would cost too much money. #
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007711090363
Bush’s loss could be big gain for Los Osos; Officials don’t yet know how much they may get — it could be $35 million
San Luis Obispo
By Sona Patel, staff writer
Los Osos could get as much as $35 million in federal money for a sewer as part of a spending bill enacted into law Thursday.
The U.S. Senate overrode President Bush’s veto of the $23 billion Water Resources Development Act. The House of Representatives voted to override the veto on Tuesday.
The congressional action marked the first time a Bush veto was overridden by Congress.
While the bill authorizes millions for Los Osos, the community isn’t guaranteed the full amount, and local officials won’t know how much money they’ll get toward building a sewer until future bills that actually appropriate the money are approved.
The authorization also banks a $3 million credit toward federal matching funds for the Cambria Community Services District for money the agency has already spent toward the cost of a desalination plant.
Under the bill, that money — already spent on planning and studies for the proposed new water source—will be applied toward requirements that the district match federal grant money with local funds.
County officials, with the help of a lobbying firm, have been working toward having Congress appropriate $5 million toward design and engineering for the Los Osos sewer.
However, their request for funding might not be decided until the end of the year.
Next year, the county might seek more money for design and engineering or funds for construction costs, depending on how far the project has progressed. #
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/story/188301.html
Millions approved for wetlands project
By Tiffany Revelle, staff writer
Among hundreds of projects across the country, WRDA authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to design and construct the Middle Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project in
Plans include raising about half a mile of Highway 20 east of
Public Works deputy director Bob Lossius said "What we're talking about is appropriations for federal money, and that's only 65 percent of the cost," Lossius said. "We have to come up with about a 35 percent match." Lossius said there is approximately $400,000 in the county's budget for a match.
Lossius said the county signed an agreement on plans for the project with the Army Corps of Engineers three years ago. "Once the federal government appropriates money for the federal side, which will fund the Corps so they can start discussions on what to do next, likely we'll have to re-evaluate the agreement we signed since it was so long ago," Lossius said.
Lossius said the next step is to apply for between $2 million and $3 million needed for the design phase of the project. He said it is "unlikely" the county will see any money for the project this year. "We'll have to seek appropriation in next year's appropriations bills," Lossius said. #
http://www.record-bee.com/local/ci_7410303
Editorial: Finally vetoing a veto; Congress overrules Bush on water bill that would benefit the Delta's levees
Members of the United States Congress have handed President Bush the first veto override of his administration.
Consequently, a $23 billion water bill that includes $1.3 billion for 54 projects in
If the appropriations bill is fully funded, a portion of the
Those levee repairs are desperately needed, protecting as they do the drinking and agricultural water for about 22 million Californians as well as the fragile Delta ecosystem.
A collapse of even two of the hundreds of levees protecting the region could create a major disaster for
The president, in vetoing the initial legislation, complained about how much it would cost.
"This bill lacks fiscal discipline," Bush said. That's puzzling. Bush hadn't vetoed a single appropriations bill until May, when he rejected legislation that included timelines for troop withdrawals from
During his six years and nine months in office, federal deficits have ballooned to record levels fueled by hundreds of billions in spending for the wars in
Bush has had plenty of opportunities to veto spending he considered excessive. Not once during the first six years of his presidency - when Republicans controlled Congress - did he do so.
He's vetoed only five bills. Compare that with the 37 vetoes of the
Besides, water projects aren't where the real money is being spent. Everyone, Republicans and Democrats alike, understands that.
Obviously, $23 billion is a huge sum. The country's water infrastructure needs are just as huge.
In the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, avoiding a catastrophe by repairing and maintaining the levee system will represent pennies on the dollar next to what it would cost if - not when - a major disaster strikes.
This was a proper and prudent override of a presidential veto. #
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071109/A_OPINION01/711090306/-1/A_OPINION06
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