Friday, October 23, 2009
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:
As you are well aware, the San Joaquin Valley is currently suffering from a man-made drought, brought on by overzealous environmental regulations that place the rights of fish above the rights of people. Agriculture production makes the Valley one of California’s largest economic contributors—literally feeding our economy as we feed the rest of the nation with our bountiful produce. However, due to Endangered Species Act restrictions on the Delta Pumps, the economic engine that is California agriculture is about to come to a grinding halt. This does not have to be the case.
As my colleagues and I have asked you to do many times, you, as governor of California can request the convening of the God Squad—a cadre of federal officials who have the authority to waive the Endangered Species Act if the restrictions are found to cause excessive destruction to jobs and the economy. The protection of the Delta Smelt—the three inch minnow that is responsible for the Delta Pumps being shut down during planting season and thereby killing California agriculture—certainly meets this qualification. The silence of your response has been deafening.
Today you signed a bill exempting the construction of a new National Football League (NFL) stadium in Los Angeles from California environmental regulations. While I support your efforts to override environmental regulations when it is necessary to do so, I do not understand why you have been unwilling to ask the President to do the same for our farmers. I am concerned that this sends the message that environmental protections are less important than football but more important than 40,000 jobless farmers and farm workers, towns with unemployment rates of 40 percent, rising crime rates and mile long food lines that would be ironic if they weren’t so depressing.
In your own words regarding the signing of this bill:
“This is the best kind of action state government can create: action that cuts red tape, generates jobs, is environmentally friendly and brings a continued economic boost to California.”
I agree with you, cutting environmental red tape will generate jobs and boost our economy in the case of the NFL stadium. That same red tape is preventing our farmers from planting crops this year, which will result in the loss of $2 billion of income—apparently enough to buy at least two football stadiums.
Mr. Governor, if waiving environmental regulations is good enough for the NFL fans of Los Angeles, why is it not good enough for the hard working farmers of the San Joaquin Valley?
Again, on behalf of my constituents whose livelihoods depend on water, and who want nothing more than to farm their land and feed our country, I urgently request that you ask President Obama to convene the God Squad for the purposes of examining the Endangered Species Acts restrictions as it applies to the Delta Smelt. We are eagerly awaiting your response.
Sincerely,
/s/
GEORGE RADANOVICH
Member of Congress
Zoltan
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