Use
of California fire fees to collect cash questioned [Sacramento Bee]
Gov.
Jerry Brown's administration for two years has devoted a share of new fire fees
to a special unit that chases fire starters, a funding arrangement the
Legislature's attorney considers illegal. State leaders indicated in 2011 that
they would use annual fire fees for preventive measures such as inspecting
forest homes and creating new fire maps. But Brown's Department of Finance said
Monday that the state also has used the fees for wildfire investigations, which
the state Office of Legislative Counsel deems unconstitutional, according to
the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office….The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers
Association filed suit in October challenging the fee as an illegal tax. The
group's president, Jon Coupal, said he was unaware the state was using the fees
for wildfire investigations. "Wow," he said. "If anything, I
think they've just made our case easier for us if that's where they spend the
money."
Immigration
hearings set to open in the House [New York Times]
The
chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Representative Robert W. Goodlatte
of Virginia, said on Monday that a series of hearings he will schedule in the
coming months would examine different pieces of a possible overhaul of the
immigration system, including proposals for a pathway to citizenship for 11
million illegal immigrants in the country. On Tuesday the committee will hold
the first of those hearings, formally opening what Mr. Goodlatte, a Republican,
called a “momentous debate on immigration” in Congress….Mr. Goodlatte’s plans
for the hearings were a new sign of how far the center of gravity on
immigration has shifted since the November elections, when Mr. Obama’s support
for a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants helped secure his
re-election. Many Republican leaders have been calling for the party to find a
new approach that plays down strident rhetoric against illegal immigrants and
instead offers solutions to Latinos, high-tech businesses, farmers and many
other groups frustrated with the system’s failures.
Why
do farmers get their own immigration deal? [ABC News]
The
bipartisan group of senators working on an immigration reform bill haven't
decided how to handle the broad swath of workers who come to the U.S. to
perform manual labor. The Senate framework talks about creating "an
improved process for admitting future workers" but doesn't commit to a
guest worker program specifically. The framework does, however, make it clear
that the immigration bill will contain a special guest-worker program for
agricultural and dairy workers (who are mostly immigrants, except when
portrayed in Super Bowl commercials). In addition, undocumented farm workers
who are here already would get an expedited path to citizenship. So why do
farmers get a special deal, when immigrant workers also fill manual labor jobs
in industries like construction, healthcare and hospitality?... "We don't
have access to a domestic labor force," said Kristi Boswell, the director
of congressional relations for the American Farm Bureau Federation. "Our
jobs are in rural areas, they're seasonal and temporary in nature."
Report
says dam removal good for Klamath salmon, farmers [Associated Press]
A
federal report says removing four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River in
Oregon and California and restoring ecosystems will produce a big increase in
salmon harvests and boost farm revenues. The 400-page report was produced by
federal scientists to help the secretary of Interior evaluate whether it is in
the public interest to go ahead with the $1 billion project, which is
considered the biggest dam removal in U.S. history if it goes through as
planned in 2020….Overall, the benefits far outweigh the costs, by as much as
47.6 to one, the report found. The report estimates that dam removal would
increase commercial fishing harvests of Klamath chinook 43 percent over the
next 50 years, for a value of $134.5 million. Sport and tribal harvests would
also climb. More irrigation for farms during drought years under terms of the
Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement would produce economic benefits one out of
every 10 years, for increased value of $30 million over the next 50 years.
Judge
upholds removal of Calif. oyster farm [Associated Press]
A
federal judge on Monday denied a Northern California oyster farm's request to
have its removal from Point Reyes National Seashore overturned, and ruled
against allowing it to continue doing business in the park while its lawsuit is
being heard in court. The judge denied owner Kevin Lunny's request to void
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's refusal to renew the historic oyster farm's
lease for another 10 years. The rulings dealt a blow to the popular Drakes Bay
Oyster Co.'s last-ditch effort to remain in business beyond its March 15
eviction date.
Farmers
sue Calcot over $21 million cotton loss [Bakersfield Californian]
Lingering
pain over a disastrous investment in West Texas cotton just got worse for
Bakersfield's Calcot Ltd. A group of Arizona-based Calcot members sued the
cotton marketing co-op Monday, alleging that it had no business getting
involved in such investments and, further, that the organization tried to hide
the $21 million loss that resulted in 2011. Calcot's lawyer said in an
interview Monday that the partnership's losses, as well as its earlier profits,
were disclosed in annual reports….The lawsuit comes as the co-op is trying to
recover half the 2011 losses from White Gold Cotton LLC, its Bakersfield-based
partner in the ill-fated joint venture. Calcot sued White Gold principal Mark
Costa in November, saying he hid personal assets to avoid paying his share of
the losses, which his lawyer has denied.
Calcot
has also filed lawsuit against five cotton growers in Lubbock County, Texas.
Ag
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