In his latest TV ad promoting the water bond, Governor Jerry Brown claims that the voters' approval of Propositions 1 and 2 will "save water" and "save money."
“It’s been over 50 years since we built the State Water Project that’s been the backbone of California,” says the Governor referring to the giant water water storage and diversion project that his father Edmund G. "Pat" Brown, California governor from 1959 to 1967, oversaw the construction of. “To stay strong, we need a reliable water supply and a stable budget.”
He ends the spot by proclaiming, “Save water, save money — vote yes on 1 and 2.”
Brown's Yes on Prop. 1 and 2 campaign coffers have plenty of money to spend on slick ads trying to sell his $7.5 billion water bond. The total of money donated by the top contributors for Governor Brown Prop. 1 and 2 campaign has risen to $9,913,452 to date, according to the California FPPC. (http://fppc.ca.gov/...)
The campaign contributions include $850,000 from corporate agribusiness interests, including $150,000 from Beverly Hills billionaire Stewart Resnick of Paramount Farms; $250,000 from Aera Energy LLC (Exxon Mobil/Shell Oil Company); $1 million from billionaire Sean Parker, who cofounded the file-sharing computer service Napster and served as the first president of Facebook; and $1.5 million from four members of the Fisher Family, the owners of the Gap Stores and Mendocino Redwood Company. (http://www.indybay.org/...)
In response, opponents of Proposition 1 on October 20 released figures from recent water bond measures showing that $20 billion in taxpayer funding has done little to nothing to solve California’s water challenges - and said Prop. 1 would bring more "ineffective and wasteful" spending.
“Since 2000, California has spent about $20 billion in water bonds and interest without solving our water challenges,” said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, No on Prop. 1 field director and executive director of Restore the Delta. “The titles of these past bonds, like Prop 1, carry the promise of a safe, clean, and reliable drinking water supply. That is why we must ask: ‘Where is the water in this drought to show for all the billions borrowed?’”
The bond pitch is always “clean drinking water,” “safe drinking water,” but it is never delivered, Barrigan-Parrilla said. From 2000 to 2006, voters approved a total of $15.47 billion in new debt (roughly $20 billion including interest) to meet the same needs in Prop 1, ($7.2 billion in new debt; $14.4 billion with interest payback).
• Proposition 12: The Safe Neighborhood, Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air, and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2000 — $3.8 billion (with interest); Voter approved debt $2.1 Billion in 2000.
• Proposition 13: The Safe Drinking Water, Clean Water, Watershed Protection, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2000 — $3.4 billion (with interest); Voter approved debt $1.97 Billion in 2000.
• Proposition 40: The California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Act of 2002 — $4.3 billion (with interest); Voter approved debt $2.6 Billion in March 2002.
• Proposition 50: The Water Quality, Supply, and Safe Drinking Water Projects (Coastal Wetlands Purchase and Protection) Act of 2002 — $5.7 billion (with interest); Voter approved debt $3.4 Billion in Nov 2002.
• Proposition 84: Bonds for Clean Water, Flood Control, State and Local Park Improvements Act of 2006 — $10.5 billion (with interest) Voter approved debt $5.4 Billion in 2006.
"Does anybody remember this promise from Prop 84?" she asked.
“$1 billion in funding for integrated regional water management. These funds will provide grants to increase water supply, reduce demand, and protect water quality. The result will be an additional 1 million acre feet of water per year for California.” http://bondaccountability.resources.ca.gov/...
Barrigan-Parrilla concluded, “Prop 1 will not ‘save water’ as Gov. Brown claims in ads paid for by special interests. Prop. 1 is another in a long line of misplaced spending that subsidizes unsustainable agribusiness, It’s a boondoggle to enrich his big ag contributors."
Save water, save money - vote NO on Proposition 1!
For more information go to http://www.noonprop1.org