There are no Crocodile Dundees in the San Joaquin Valley
We are always happy to hear about our state Legislature getting out and getting exposed to educational influences. The poor dears are in the Capitol for so short a time -- thanks to the concerted, successful efforts of California's dominant corporations to impose term limits on legislators -- that it should always be reassuring to all Californians whenever our legislators are getting educated. In the case of their trip to Australia to study how that country has dealt with droughts, we ought to be especially grateful to the funders of this trip, the California Foundation on the Environment and Economy, an organization composed of termed out state legislators and lobbyists (for whom there are no term limits) from the energy and development "communities," and the building trades unions.
This is a fine example of one of the basic assumptions of California leadership: Every day is a New Day! Why go to the abundant public record that exists on all aspects of the state's water supply and study, or at least have members of your staff study, what California has done in times of drought? How much more glamorous to go to Australia!" And it looks better on the resume than dropping by UC Davis for a workshop.
There are no Crocodile Dundees in the San Joaquin Valley. -- blj
10-20-15
Contra Costa Times
California lawmakers travel to Australia for drought lessons
Associated Press
http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_28993541/california-law...
SACRAMENTO -- California lawmakers are joining environmental, labor and business leaders on a trip to see how Australia managed its longest and most severe drought on record.
The nine-day visit that began Monday comes as California finishes its fourth year of drought. Australia endured a 12-year drought from 1997 to 2009.
Democratic Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León of Los Angeles says California can learn how to adapt to what could be more frequent extreme weather due to climate change.
Assembly Minority Leader Kristin Olsen, a Republican from Modesto, is among the 11 lawmakers from both political parties on the trip.
Also attending is California Water Commission member Daniel Curtin.
The trip is organized and paid for by the California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy, a nonpartisan, nonprofit think-tank.
California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy
http://www.cfee.net/board-of-directors/
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
PATRICK JOHNSTON, Chairman
SHERYL CARTER, Vice-Chairman, No. California
FREDERICK E. JOHN, Vice-Chairman, So. California
PATRICK F. MASON, President and CEO
K.C. BISHOP, Secretary
JACK McNALLY, Treasurer
MEMBERS
Michael Alcantar, Attorney, Alcantar & Kahl, LLP
Adrienne Alvord, Director, California and Western States, Union of Concerned Scientists
Curt Augustine, Director of Policy & Govt. Affairs, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
J. Thomas Baca, International VP of Western States, Boilermakers Union
Robert L. Balgenorth, Chairman, California Construction Industry, Labor Management Trust
Stephen Berberich, President & Chief Executive Officer, CAISO
K.C. Bishop, Senior Consultant, Calif. State Relations, Chevron Corporation
Ellie Booth, Director, State Government Relations, Covanta Energy Corporation
Helen Burt, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Pacific Gas & Electric Corporation
Sheryl Carter, Co-Director of the Energy Program, Natural Resources Defense Council
John Chillemi, Senior Vice President & President, West Region, NRG Energy, Inc.
Rachelle B. Chong, Principal, Rachelle Chong Strategic Consulting
Patricia T. Clarey, Sr. VP, External Relations and Regulatory Officer, Health Net, Inc.
John J. Coffey, Strategic Energy Consultant
Timothy T. Cremins, Director of Education & Research, Calif.-Nev. Conf. of Operating Engineers
Daniel M. Curtin, Director, California Conference of Carpenters
Martin Daley, Vice President & General Manager, Dynegy Power, LLC
Thomas M. Dalzell, Business Manager/Financial Secretary, I.B.E.W. Local Union 1245
Grant Davis, General Manager, Sonoma County Water
Hal Dittmer, Founder, President, and Owner, Wellhead Electric Company
Leonard Dorr, SVP, Regional Business Line Leader, Energy, AECOM
Jim Earp, Executive Director, California Alliance for Jobs
Marcie Edwards, General Manager, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
Scott Farris, Director, Government Relations, TransCanada Corporation
Victor H. Fazio, Senior Advisor, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Christine M. Frahm, Attorney/Legislative Advocate, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Michael Gianunzio, Chief Legislative & Regulatory Affairs, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
David Gomez, Executive Director, IBEW/NECA/LMCC
Kassandra F. Gough, Director, Government & Legislative Affairs, Calpine Corporation
Kerry Hattevik, Regional Director West Government Affairs, NextEra Energy Resources
Randy Howard, General Manager, Northern California Power Agency
Robert Hunter, President, State Building & Construction Trades Council of California
Frederick E. John, Energy Consultant
Patrick Johnston, Chair, CFEE
Jeffrey Kightlinger, General Manager, Metropolitan Water District of So. California
Stephen Konig, Director, Government and Public Affairs, Tesoro
Marvin P. Kropke, Business Manager, I.B.E.W., Local Union 11
Denise L. Kruger, Senior Vice President, Regulated Utilities, Golden State Water Company
Francisco Fernandez Lafuente, Mngmt Advisor, Civil & Infrastructure, Sener Engineering and Systems, Inc.
Patrick Lavin, Business Manager/Financial Secretary, I.B.E.W., Local 47
Mike Layton, Business Manager, Southern California Pipe Trades, District Council No. 16
Deane Leavenworth, Regional Vice President, Govt. Relations, West Region, Time Warner Cable
Michael Liikala, Consultant, Solutions International
Kevin Lynch, Managing Director External Affairs, Iberdrola Renewables
Mary Lynch, Vice President, Regulatory & Legis. Affairs, Exelon
Robert MacLean, President, California American Water
Patrick F. Mason, President and CEO, CFEE
Timothy J. McCallion, President - West Region, Verizon
Michael McGraw, Vice President, Government Affairs, California Resources Corporation
Carolyn McIntyre, President, California Cable & Telecommunications Association
Jack McNally, Consultant - Advisor, IBEW Local Union 1245
Kenneth P. McNeely, President, AT&T California
Sunne Wright McPeak, President & CEO, California Emerging Technology Fund
Jose Mejia, Director, California State Council of Laborers
Peter C. Nelson, Chairman of the Board, President & CEO, California Water Service Company
Meredith Parkin, Principal Environmental Scientist, MWH Global
Eric Pendergraft, Vice President, Business Development, AES Southland
Mark A. Pisano, Professor of the Practice of Public Administration, Sol Price School of Public Policy, USC
Andrew Rea, Managing Director, Energy, Navigant
Dan Richard, Principal, Dan Richard Advisors, LLC
Gerald D. Secundy, President, C.C.E.E.B.
Daniel Skopec, Vice President for Regulatory Affairs, Sempra Energy Utilities
Jon Slangerup, Chief Executive, Port of Long Beach
Jan Smutny-Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Independent Energy Producers Association
Tom Starrs, VP, Market Development and Policy, SunPower
Mary Stutts, Regional Vice President, Comcast Cable of California
Gaddi Vasquez, Sr. Vice President, Edison International
Derek Walker, Assoc Vice President, U.S. Climate & Energy Program, Environmental Defense Fund
Dawn Weisz, Chief Executive Officer, Marin Clean Energy
Michael Wheeler, Vice President of Policy Initiatives, Recurrent Energy
Stan Williams, Vice President-Project Development, Poseidon Water, LLC
Geoffrey Yarema, Partner, Nossaman LLP
Jay Ziegler, Director of External Affairs Policy, The Nature Conservancy
TBD, Shell Energy North America
·
EMERITUS MEMBERS
William T. Bagley, Attorney, Nossaman LLP
Chuck Center, Labor Leader
Katherine Dunlap, Civic Leader
John T. Knox, Attorney, Nossaman LLP
Paul N. "Pete" McCloskey, Jr., Attorney at Law
Leon Panetta, Director, The Leon & Sylvia Panetta Insitute for Public Policy
Paul V. Priolo, Chair, Sacramento Seminar
Anthony L. Ramos, Labor Leader