March 19, 2015 - SACRAMENTO – Assembly Republican Leader Kristin Olsen, of Modesto, issued the following statement in response to today’s announcement on emergency drought legislation:
“It is unacceptable that people in our state are going hungry because of a lack of water. While this emergency drought relief is an important Band-Aid, we have to move beyond these temporary fixes.
“We will only be better prepared for future droughts in California if we start now on building storage, desalination, recycling, and other water projects to increase supply.
“This is an emergency and as such, we should immediately expedite projects to increase water supply that have been hung up in government red tape and permitting processes for decades.
“Our state water boards need to start making decisions that help people - human lives - instead of fish.
“Let’s take action on these projects now so leaders no longer need emergency actions.”
Additional background: In November, California voters overwhelming approved a comprehensive water bond that was the product of strong Republican leadership. It includes long-overdue funding to build new above and below-ground water storage that will provide additional water supply for Californians.
This year, Republicans have proposed legislation (Assembly Bill 311-Gallagher) to help streamline the environmental review process for water storage projects that receive funding through the water bond and accelerate funding for critical projects.
March 19, 2015 - SACRAMENTO – Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee Vice Chairman Assemblyman Frank Bigelow (R-O’Neals), issued the following statement in response to today’s announcement by Governor Brown and Legislative Democrats of emergency drought legislation:
“While this emergency drought relief legislation is a very important step, working Californians expect this legislature to solve real problems with real solutions. The solution is simple. We must plan for the long term and build Sites Reservoir and Temperance Flat, which voters approved in 2014 with the passage of Proposition 1. Drought relief is necessary, but above ground surface storage projects are the only way for California to secure its own water future.”
