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  1. #1
    Senior Member cvangel's Avatar
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    Freeze relief package sought for Calif.

    http://www.fresnobee.com/406/story/27070.html

    Freeze relief package sought for Calif.
    By Michael Doyle / Bee Washington Bureau
    01/30/07 10:55:46


    WASHINGTON — Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein whipped out her red checkbook Tuesday morning and cut a $1,000 check for Tulare County freeze relief.

    That was the easy part. One of the Senate's richest members, Feinstein could painlessly contribute to United Way of Tulare County from her joint account with husband Richard Blum. Now, she's hoping to secure much, much more - courtesy of Uncle Sam.

    "Senator (Barbara) Boxer and I will do our utmost to see there is a relief package for California," Feinstein assured nine visiting Tulare County officials.

    Led by county supervisors Allen Ishida and Steve Worthley, the Tulare County contingent lobbying Congress this week applauded Feinstein's personal contribution as well as her political pledge. But after meeting with lawmakers and staffers on both sides of Capitol Hill starting Monday, the local officials are also starting to realize what hurdles they still face.

    "We're in for a bigger fight than we anticipated, which is fine," Tulare City Councilman Carlton Jones said.

    In part, Congress is simply demanding more answers.

    So far, the crippling freeze that began Jan. 12 has been blamed for at least $800 million worth of crop damage in California. Tulare County's vulnerable citrus orchards accounted for than half of the estimated loss statewide.

    Nonetheless, California farm officials must still firmly pin down damage estimates before Congress acts.

    "We have to know with specificity," Feinstein cautioned. "It's very difficult to know right know what's happening with the trees, and I can't ask for something that I can't be sure exists."

    Congress must then figure out how to deliver the money. Feinstein said she expects any freeze package would be included in a larger supplemental funding bill that will support the Iraq war. This bill may not be reaching the House and Senate floors until March or April.

    When it comes, the so-called Iraq supplemental will total tens of billions of dollars. It is bound to incite debate over the war funding. Customarily, such supplemental appropriations bills also become magnets for many other projects that may be controversial in their own right.

    Some specific freeze aid proposals, moreover, could run afoul of congressional factions. For instance, Feinstein cautioned that even though an estimated 12,000 San Joaquin Valley workers may be unemployed because of the freeze, Congress will be loathe to provide direct aid to those workers who are illegal immigrants.

    "It was a little bit of a reality check," Worthley acknowledged, following the meeting with Feinstein that lasted about 20 minutes.

    Allies do abound; some of them, well-placed to help.

    "The majority leader has assured me he will be open to this kind of request," Feinstein said.

    On Wednesday morning, moreover, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns has scheduled an aerial reconnaissance of the freeze-affected area. Johanns had already been scheduled to be in the San Joaquin Valley, for a farm bill news conference in Modesto.

    Feinstein herself chairs a subcommittee on the Senate Appropriations Committee, which gives her a seat at the table when the funding packages are prepared. Boxer's office, meanwhile, is helping coordinate legislative proposals with a united San Joaquin congressional delegation.

    The Valley's House members -- including Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia and Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa - met one after another with the Tulare County officials after their meeting with Feinstein.

    The Tulare County officials had previously scheduled their Washington trip to focus on San Joaquin River restoration, marijuana eradication and other non-emergency issues. Following the freeze, they re-juggled the three-day trip to push for disaster relief -and in so doing, attracted the company of four San Joaquin Valley television news crews.

    "What we've mainly done is the freeze issues," Porterville Mayor Cameron Hamilton said, "but what we're getting ready to do is the water issue."

    If there is a California freeze relief package, it will be part of a larger relief package serving the Midwest and other states as well. This is what Congress tends to do. Every year since 1992, Congress has approved ad hoc farm disaster bills; since 1999, they have cost nearly $43 billion.

    Already, Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D.., has introduced a comprehensive farm disaster bill to which the California relief efforts might be attached.

    The Tulare County officials conclude their lobbying trip Wednesday.


    Some specific freeze aid proposals, moreover, could run afoul of congressional factions. For instance, Feinstein cautioned that even though an estimated 12,000 San Joaquin Valley workers may be unemployed because of the freeze, Congress will be loathe to provide direct aid to those workers who are illegal immigrants.
    I did like this part! Could it be a sign that they're finally starting to listen?

  2. #2

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    OMG the illegals are upset because they can work???? Oh well

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