Republicans seek to tap California drought for a political edge

[DonViejo]

Midterm election campaigns attempt to link the state's water crisis to Democratic environmental policies, and promise relief for farmers.

By Evan Halper
January 26, 2014, 10:58 p.m.

WASHINGTON — Beleaguered and outnumbered, California Republicans think they may have found a crucial ally — drought.

Up and down the state's increasingly dry Central Valley, Republicans have pounded away at the argument that Democratic policies — particularly environmental rules — are to blame for the parched fields and dwindling reservoirs that threaten to bankrupt farms and wipe out jobs.

In his latest campaign video, Republican Doug Ose stands in the middle of dried-out Folsom Lake. At a mere 17% capacity, the usually scenic reservoir favored by boaters and sunbathers looks like the set of "Mad Max." As the camera pans, Ose declares, "We're facing a real crisis."

"Where's our representative?" he demands, referring to Rep. Ami Bera, a freshman Democrat elected in 2012 on a razor-thin margin, whom he hopes to unseat this fall.

House Speaker John A. Boehner joined the effort recently, flying to Bakersfield and promising to shepherd legislation through the House to divert some of the state's dwindling water supply to farmers.

more
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-drought-politics-20140127,0,6322521.story#ixzz2rbvWu3LW

[Berlum]

1. Bizzaro World (R)

[Fred Sanders]

2. Bring in a good old Texas Prayer For Rain meeting, look how that worked out for them.

[Arkana]

3. Lemme know how that turns out. *snort*

[sakabatou]

4. Riiiight...

[yellowcanine]

5. What makes it worse is the Democratic denials of global warming connections with droughts! Oh wait.

Never mind.