Water Archives | CalDirt

Here’s a possibly weird turn of events in California politics. Politico is reporting today that Rep. John Garamendi, one of the state’s Democratic congressmen, has introduced legislation mimicking a Trump administration proposal on water. Rep. John Garamendi, who weirdly doesn’t look like Trump or act like Trump… but agrees with Trump on water. According to Politico, the Garamendi bill is also backed by Reps. Ken Calvert and Rob Woodall. It “would extend from 5 to 10 years the maximum term for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits issued under the Clean Water Act.” The proposal is broadly opposed by environmental groups. But Donald Trump apparently loves the idea, and included it in last month’s infrastructure proposal. Garamendi must be pretty clearly sold on the legislation’s merits, because siding with Trump on just about anything except for perhaps the awesomeness of Mom and apple pie isn’t exactly a big political benefit…

Water: With ever more climate change underway, drought in parts of California and years of horror stories regarding toxic water coming out of Flint, Michigan, progressives know water policy is important. In the Golden State, progressives are rightly making water policy a priority. But there’s a problem: Newly-inaugurated Gov. Gavin Newsom seems to be going about it in a way that could turn out to actually be regressive. Newsom could end up hurting the same poor Californians he’s trying to help. Where water is concerned, Newsom’s progressivism seems to have gone missing-in-action. If you haven’t heard about Newsom’s plan, the Sacramento Bee has a summary: Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a tax on drinking water Thursday to help disadvantaged communities clean up contaminated water systems. Newsom’s plan for a “safe and affordable drinking water fund,” included in the new governor’s first budget proposal, attempts to revive an idea that died in the Legislature…

Water

Garamendi goes Trumpy with water bill

Has Gavin Newsom lost his progressivism?