For weeks now top legislative leaders have been toiling in the back room cobbling together a complex package to try and address California’s water woes. The plan is rumored to include not only borrowing through bond measures of close to ten BILLION dollars, but also is said to include a host of new regulations that will impact all Californians.
The handful of legislative leaders that have been engrossed in the negotiations are very familiar will all of these details. One would imagine, if the legislative leaders are doing their job, that to some degree, each of the 120 legislators have some knowledge of the contents of the plans — at least through telephonic briefings and such. Well, at least the plans as of their most recent conference call. In addition some stakeholders have been briefed in summary fashion at various stages of negotiation, but certainly that is a small number.
Once you get beyond this very small pyramid of those in some sort of loop, it becomes clear that once again the legislature and the Governor are once again preparing to put up for a vote a piece of major legislation without providing an opportunity for thorough review in advance. Not only should every member of the legislature have a chance to read, study and fully comprehend final proposed language for at least 48 hours before a vote. But equally as important, this legislation that effects so many should be packaged up with a comprehensive summary and provided to legislators so that they may circulate it to constituents, to local stakeholders, and all interested parties. There should also be a process for relevant feedback from legislators to be considered for potential amendments to this package.
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