Thursday, January 19, 2006
I don't have to know stuff. I've just got to legislate
Today, the news from our favorite state legislature was that a bill for massive new water projects moved successfully out of committee. The proposed water projects will end up costing $1 billion (conveniently, $1 billion is also the amount of the budget surplus). In the report on the bill's progress, various folks questioned the wisdom of moving forward on such expensive (and environmentally damaging) projects without focusing first on conservation. (Why should we get rid of our lawns if we can build a billion dollar damn?)One legislator (can't remember his name and can't get the story to replay on my computer) said that we should pursue these water projects or "stop drinking water." Jackie Bikupski asked whether the state has ever spent so much on a water project. And Mr. Legislator said, "I don't know. I don't know the history of water in this state." Oh yes, this is what we are blessed with. How can you possibly make a decision about water in the state if you don't know the history of water in the state? Especially when you live in a state that has such a complicated and contested history of water rights and usage.
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5 comments:
Argggg! The bear river is one of the only undammed rivers in the west. You're so right about the lawns--why conserve when we can irrigate, reroute, dam and appropriate. Every MLK Jr day (when they go into session oh so reverently), I vow to move from this mal-governed state.
Meh. Go to love the lies that people believe.
You can read more about the Leg's Bear River plans here:
http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2006/htmdoc/hbillhtm/hb0045.htm
I was feeling mildly depressed about the legislative session/state/money for teachers situation; now I feel a sense of doom. You'd think in a surplus year like this there'd finally be some money to make up for the years when there was no money. But no.
Too bad we can't just think of the legislature as, like, theater. I mean farce.
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