Vote shows ‘legislative priority’ on Salton Sea By JONATHAN ATHENS, Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 24, 2007 10:20 PM PDT
Despite weeks of wrangling and a stalemate over the California budget, state lawmakers on both sides of the political divide may be reaching a consensus over spending more money to restore the Salton Sea.
Lawmakers fell short by two votes Friday to approve a proposed $145 billion budget, but within that hefty sum is a proposal to spend $25.5 million on early start habitat restoration efforts for the Salton Sea.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing $12.5 million and the state Senate is proposing an additional $13 million.
“It shows there is a legislative priority to get going and speed up the effort,” said Mark Newton, director of resources and environmental protection with the Legislative Analyst’s Office.
The nonpartisan group, based in Sacramento, released its summary of the proposed budget Friday. In that summary, the office noted the additional funding for the Salton Sea among other new moneys for other initiatives.
“These are ‘no regrets’-type of actions” among lawmakers, Newton said.
Sen. Denise Ducheny, D-San Diego, said she hopes Schwarzenegger will approve the $25.5 million for the Salton Sea restoration.
“We’re hoping the governor will sign off on that. … We need to encourage people to support this,” Ducheny said.
Schwarzenegger’s office on Monday gave a neutral response and would not comment specifically about the extra money for the Salton Sea.
“The governor recognizes that restoration of the Salton Sea will be a multi-year, multi-billion effort,” said Bill Maile, spokesman for Schwarzenegger. “That is why he has included it in his comprehensive water plan. However, on specific legislative proposals, we will not comment until the final version reaches his desk.”
The money, which would pay for habitats to be established around the decaying sea, comes from past voter approved bonds and Proposition 84, a $5.4 billion natural resources bond that was approved by voters in November.
“I think it’s excellent. It’s long overdue. It’s good to see them start moving on this,” said Michael Cohen, senior associate with the Pacific Institute, an Oakland-based natural resources and advocacy group.
When asked if the proposed Salton Sea restoration money could get axed in the course of continuing budget debates, Ducheny said she does not think that will happen because the money comes from voter-approved bonds, not the general fund.
Lawmakers and the governor are at a political stalemate over the proposed state budget — the Assembly and the Senate were supposed to approve a budget in mid-June and Schwarzenegger was supposed to sign off on a final budget by July 1.
News of the proposed additional money for restoration comes as lawmakers are also grappling with creating a governing body to oversee a proposed $8.9 billion 75-year restoration plan written by the California Resources Agency.
“It’s another step in the right direction of the 75-year vision,” said California Resources spokesman Sandy Cooney.
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