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<h1><b><font size=6 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:24.0pt'>Stuart
Leavenworth: Feinstein says she's no Westlands 'shill,' but ...<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h1>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>By <span class=fn>Stuart Leavenworth,
Editorial page editor</span> <br>
<a href="mailto:sleavenworth@sacbee.com">sleavenworth@sacbee.com</a> <span
class=orgfn><span style='display:none'>The Sacramento Bee</span></span> <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Published: Sunday, Mar. 7, 2010 -
12:00 am | Page 6E <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Last Modified: Sunday, Mar. 7, 2010 -
12:16 pm<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<!-- CLOSE: #story_header -->
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>You know you've struck a nerve with an editorial when, on the
very next business day, <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/California/"
style='cursor:pointer'
_old_href="http%3A%2F%2Ftopics.sacbee.com%2FCalifornia%2F"><font size=3
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>California's</span></font></a>
senior senator rings you on the telephone. <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>That's how I found myself spending an hour on Monday, engaged
in an animated but civil exchange with <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/U.S.+Sen.+Dianne+Feinstein/" style='cursor:pointer'
_old_href="http%3A%2F%2Ftopics.sacbee.com%2FU.S.%2BSen.%2BDianne%2BFeinstein%2F"><font
size=3 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>U.S.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein.</span></font></a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Feinstein, calling me from her home near the nation's
capital, was responding to a Feb. 27 editorial on her efforts to secure more
water for the <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Westlands+Water+District/"
style='cursor:pointer'
_old_href="http%3A%2F%2Ftopics.sacbee.com%2FWestlands%2BWater%2BDistrict%2F"><font
size=3 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>Westlands
Water District,</span></font></a> an agricultural giant in the <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/San+Joaquin+Valley/" style='cursor:pointer'
_old_href="http%3A%2F%2Ftopics.sacbee.com%2FSan%2BJoaquin%2BValley%2F"><font
size=3 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>San
Joaquin Valley.</span></font></a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Westlands, a federal water contractor that lacks secure <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/water+rights/" style='cursor:pointer'
_old_href="http%3A%2F%2Ftopics.sacbee.com%2Fwater%2Brights%2F"><font size=3
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>water rights</span></font></a>
of its own, has found itself vulnerable to cutbacks in supplies. Such cutbacks
are the result of drought and court decisions aimed at protecting smelt and
salmon in the <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Sacramento/" style='cursor:
pointer' _old_href="http%3A%2F%2Ftopics.sacbee.com%2FSacramento%2F"><font
size=3 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>Sacramento</span></font></a>-San
Joaquin <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Delta/" style='cursor:pointer'
_old_href="http%3A%2F%2Ftopics.sacbee.com%2FDelta%2F"><font size=3
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>Delta.</span></font></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Three weeks ago, it was learned that Feinstein was drafting
legislation to override federal biological opinions that limit water pumping
from the <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Delta/" style='cursor:pointer'><font
size=3 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>Delta</span></font></a>
on the behalf of fish. She came under a fair amount of criticism for that move,
not just from us, but other newspapers, too. <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>"I've been crucified by editorial boards up and down the
state," said Feinstein. <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>For the record, I would not describe either of our two recent
editorials on Feinstein as a crucifixion. The first one, on Feb. 14, began with
these lines: "In her long and mostly distinguished career, <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/U.S.+Sen.+Dianne+Feinstein/" style='cursor:pointer'><font
size=3 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>U.S.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein</span></font></a> has championed many environmental
causes. At times she has also challenged environmentalists to consider
interests other than their own. That's good."<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Then it went on to suggest that Feinstein had made a serious
error by drafting her measure – one she later dropped.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Feinstein's main reason for calling was to complain that I
hadn't made an attempt to obtain details of her bill language before publishing
our editorials.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>I acknowledged we hadn't sought that information, assuming
she (like other senators) wouldn't provide details of a bill that hadn't yet
been filed.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>In the spirit of openness, I then asked her to go public with
the language of her amendment. She declined.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>"What's the point?" she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>The conversation went on from there.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>I asked her why she was devoting such singular attention to
Westlands and not some of the other interests hurt by <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/California/" style='cursor:pointer'><font
size=3 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>California's</span></font></a>
water crisis – such as salmon fishermen.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Feinstein responded that she regularly visits the west side
of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">San Joaquin</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Valley</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> during harvest
time. During her last visit, she said, "It was the closest to civil
insurrection that I have ever seen."<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Undoubtedly it's tough for certain farmers around <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Fresno</st1:place></st1:City>, my hometown. Many
have had to fallow land. Some have had to rip up orchards.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>On the other hand, as I noted to Feinstein, scores of <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Fresno</st1:place></st1:City> farm operations
spent the last decade planting almond orchards, even though they lacked secure <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/water+rights/" style='cursor:pointer'><font
size=3 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>water
rights</span></font></a> or adequate groundwater. Is it the government's duty
to help farmers who have made such risky decisions? <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Feinstein's only answer was that the <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Central+Valley/" style='cursor:pointer'
_old_href="http%3A%2F%2Ftopics.sacbee.com%2FCentral%2BValley%2F"><font size=3
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>Central Valley</span></font></a>
is a major exporter of almonds, and the state should do all it can to protect
the industry.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>From our conversation, it was clear Feinstein has bought into
many of the talking points of Westlands – that smelt in the <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Delta/" style='cursor:pointer'><font size=3
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>Delta</span></font></a>
are being wiped out by predators more than water pumps, that the <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Delta/" style='cursor:pointer'><font size=3
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>Delta</span></font></a>
is being poisoned with ammonia from sewage treatment plants in <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Sacramento/" style='cursor:pointer'><font
size=3 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>Sacramento</span></font></a>
and elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Several times, Feinstein made the claim that the state is in
a "wet water year," and thus should be able to spare some for farms.
Water, she said, was spilling from <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Shasta+Lake/" style='cursor:pointer'
_old_href="http%3A%2F%2Ftopics.sacbee.com%2FShasta%2BLake%2F"><font size=3
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>Shasta Lake.</span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>When I challenged her on that point, she responded.
"Want to bet?" <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>I could then hear her rustling through some papers before
conceding that Shasta was well below its capacity. <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Why is Feinstein going to bat for Westlands is this way? <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Politics is one answer. Farm water is a huge issue for Valley
Democrats trying to keep their seats this year. By putting pressure on the
Obama administration to favor farmers over fish, Feinstein provides cover for
vulnerable Dems, such as <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>
Reps. Jim Costa and <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Dennis+Cardoza/"
style='cursor:pointer'
_old_href="http%3A%2F%2Ftopics.sacbee.com%2FDennis%2BCardoza%2F"><font size=3
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>Dennis Cardoza</span></font></a>
and U.S. Sen. <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Barbara+Boxer/"
style='cursor:pointer'
_old_href="http%3A%2F%2Ftopics.sacbee.com%2FBarbara%2BBoxer%2F"><font size=3
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>Barbara Boxer.</span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Yet as a <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>
senator who wants a long-term fix to the <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Delta/" style='cursor:pointer'><font size=3
face=Georgia><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:Georgia'>Delta's</span></font></a>
problems, Feinstein needs to be careful about playing favorites. Numerous water
groups have an interest in the <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Delta/"
style='cursor:pointer'><font size=3 face=Georgia><span style='font-size:11.5pt;
font-family:Georgia'>Delta.</span></font></a> All are legitimate. All would
like to get the same attention Feinstein reserves for Westlands. <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>"To say that I am a shill for Westlands just isn't
right," Feinstein told me.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Perhaps not. But given her actions of recent weeks, she will
have to prove it. <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:windowtext;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:windowtext;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><em><i><font size=3 color=gray
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>Byron
Leydecker</span></font></i></em></st1:PersonName><em><i><font color=gray
face="Times New Roman"><span style='color:gray'>, JcT, Chair</span></font></i></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em><i><font size=3 color=gray face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>Friends of <st1:place w:st="on">Trinity
River</st1:place></span></font></i></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on"><em><i><font
size=3 color=gray face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:gray'>PO Box</span></font></i></em></st1:Street><em><i><font
color=gray face="Times New Roman"><span style='color:gray'> 2327</span></font></i></em></st1:address><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><em><i><font
size=3 color=gray face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:gray'>Mill Valley</span></font></i></em></st1:City><em><i><font
color=gray face="Times New Roman"><span style='color:gray'>, <st1:State w:st="on">CA</st1:State>
<st1:PostalCode w:st="on">94942-2327</st1:PostalCode></span></font></i></em></st1:place><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em><i><font size=3 color=gray face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>415 383 4810 Land/Fax (Call first to Fax) </span></font></i></em><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em><i><font size=3 color=gray face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>415 519 4810 <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Mobile</st1:place></st1:City></span></font></i></em><o:p></o:p></p>
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