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Another bullet dodged... Stealth amendment compared to Pearl Harbor
by Bill Jennings, CSPA Executive Director
September 23, 2009 -- Yesterday, Senator DeMint (R-South Carolina) introduced an amendment to an Interior Department funding bill on the floor of the Senate that would have prevented any federal funds from being used to restrict exports of water from the Delta. Had it passed federal agencies would have been prevented from implementing the recent salmon and Delta smelt biological opinions.
The surprise amendment was orchestrated by a coalition of south valley agricultural groups led by Westlands Water District and only a quickly organized response, by a coalition environmental and fishing groups, defeated it by a 61-36 vote. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer withstood a vigorous last-minute e-mail lobbying campaign and opposed the amendment. Senator Feinstein likened the amendment to “Pearl Harbor.”
The amendment was virtually identical to one proposed by Congressman Devin Nunes (R-Visalia) that was defeated in the House of Representatives. Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) lobbied Feinstein to support it.
The environmental coalition included the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, Natural Resources Defense Council, The Bay Institute, Central Delta Water Agency, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, Endangered Species Coalition, Environmental Defense Fund, League of Conservation Voters, National Wildlife Federation, American Rivers, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, Save Our Wild Salmon, Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society and WildEarth Guardians
The amendment's supports included Westlands Water District, San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority, California Farm Bureau Federation, Tulare County Farm Bureau, Fresno County Farm Bureau, Kings County Farm Bureau, Families Protecting the Valley, Chowchilla Water District, California Grape and Tree Fruit League, Fresno County Board of Supervisors, Western Growers Association, California Poultry Federation, California Citrus Mutual, California Cotton Ginners Association, California Cotton Growers Association, Nisei Farmers League, California Tomato Growers Association, National Cotton Council of America and Campos Brothers.
Eternal vigilance is the price of viable fisheries.
Coalition letter opposing amendment