[Note - this is a press release in response to efforts by Ken Calvert and Republicans to amend and loosen regulations regarding distribution of water in California - another example of The Shock Doctrine being attempted as a result of the extreme drought in California. As many of you know, water rights in California is a huge thorny issue, but deregulation (or worse - regulation favoring large corporate interests) is the worst possible answer.]
[Edited to add website and act blue pages]
http://sheridanforcongress.nationbuilder.com
https://secure.actblue.com/...
Tim Sheridan, Democratic challenger to Congressman Ken Calvert of California’s 42nd district, said this week that the Congressman “is wrong to say that ‘regulations have contributed to the water shortage in California’.” Sheridan said Calvert's recent statement to that effect was “motivated by politics and is not good public policy.”
While speaking in favor of the bill, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Emergency Water Delivery Act (HR 3964), on February 5th on the House floor, Mr. Calvert said, “Ongoing drought conditions combined with regulatory restrictions have placed a tremendous strain on California’s water supply.”
“While he is correct to say that the drought is the cause of the problem,” Sheridan said, “Mr. Calvert’s attempt to blame ‘regulations’ is motivated simply by politics- something that he and the House leadership do too often. More importantly, changing the regulations in question- regulations that have ensured fair distribution of the water across the state for a long time- is not good public policy.” Sheridan added, “As a member of the Energy and Water Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, Mr. Calvert should know better. He should be using his position to deal with the root causes of the record drought, and not politicize the issue.” Mr. Sheridan joins other opponents of the bill who say that it will provide water to California’s Central Valley at the expense of other users, including those in Southern California.
“When dealing with an important matter like a severe water shortage,” Sheridan said, “we need the members of Congress to put aside politics and focus on what can be done to help everyone involved. Mr. Calvert’s action would interfere with the complex, good faith agreements that are already in place and were designed to balance the competing needs for water in this region,” he concluded.