Valley Solutions

Moderates force vote on ACA

Punchbowl News. Moderates dunk on Johnson. 
Synopsis: For years, House Republican moderates have mostly gone along with the party’s rightward shift. Today that ended. Moderate Republicans “dealt Speaker Mike Johnson a massive blow” by siding with Democratic leadership and voting to force a vote on a bill that would provide a three-year extension of Obamacare premium subsidies. The vote must be taken by January, though moderates on both sides of the aisle are working on a letter demanding Johnson to bring it up sooner. Among those drafting the letter is Rep. Adam Gray, a leader in the moderate Blue Dog Coalition. Without an extension, premiums for policies purchased under the Affordable Care Act will double or quadruple in cost starting Dec. 31. Republicans have been promising to offer a solution to the problem but have been unable to find one that all their members would support. Moderates called that inability unacceptable. As Republican Mike Lawler put it, “I didn’t come to Congress to be a potted plant” while his constituents suffer. Senate moderates also cheered the House move, saying it can break loose opposition in their chamber.

LA Times. Sticker shock: Obamacare customers confront surging premiums as Congress dithers. 
Synopsis: The Affordable Care Act subsidies that make insurance affordable for millions of working and self-employed families across the US will end on Dec. 31, driving up the cost of policies by 200% to 400%. Many families have decided not to renew their policies in the face of the increased costs. Polling shows that half of all ACA enrollees will see at least a $1,000 annual fee increase. While the GOP wants to address indirect cost-sharing and other schemes, Democrats want to extend the subsidies to keep policies affordable. Speaker Mike Johnson has so far refused to bring that simple proposal to the floor.

Investigation into MID director dies

Modesto Bee. Modesto Irrigation District board deadlocks on further investigating alleged theft.
Synopsis: After a three-hours tense meeting, the Modesto Irrigation District board deadlocked 2-2 on a motion to continue an investigation into director Larry Byrd’s use of district water to irrigate 96 acres of almonds outside district boundaries. It was Byrd who cast the tying vote on his own behalf as he was joined by Janice Keating in voting “no.” Trustee John Boer recused himself because he has business dealings with Byrd’s partners. Byrd himself did not recuse himself from the vote that directly affected him. Byrd insisted he used groundwater for irrigation, but a report from an engineering firm called that claim scientifically impossible. Among those testifying on Byrd’s behalf were former Rep. John Duarte and Byrd’s brother Tim. Urging the board to continue the investigation was Bill Lyons, the former CA Ag Secretary and former irrigation district board member, and Byrd’s former employee, Todd Sill who said he kept records of Byrd’s water use.

Plan to end CA water crisis

CA Water Views. CA representatives propose bills to ‘end the CA water crisis.’ 
Synopsis: Reps. Adam Gray and Jim Costa presented a legislative package of three bills to “expand CA’s water storage capacity by providing funding and technical support to both develop and maintain water infrastructure projects.” Both are members of the moderate Blue Dog Coalition and represent adjoining districts in the Valley. The WATER Act would identify obstacles to projects under the ESA and NEPA laws. The Build Now Act would create deadlines for agencies to review applications to begin construction. The Central Valley Water Solution Act, co-sponsored by Josh Harder, would spend $4.4 billion on 22 projects including addressing subsidence beneath the California Aqueduct. “Even if this package does not advance in Congress, its introduction is notable. It signals that CA stakeholders, especially water providers, are actively seeking out ways to improve water quality, quantity and reliability,” wrote the authors.  

A bright future for CA ag

Ag Alert. Douglass heralds ‘bright future’ for farms. 
Synopsis: CA Farm Bureau Federation president Shannon Douglass was upbeat in delivering her annual Christmas greetings to farmers gathered in Anaheim for the 107^th meeting of the state’s strongest ag organization. The Glenn County rancher was re-elected to a second 2-year term. Shaun Crook, a Tuolumne County forester, was chosen first VP, and Stanislaus County dairy farmer Ron Peterson was voted second VP. Douglass said farmers “got a little more aggressive in how we talked” about ag issues such as immigration this year, moving the needle. “We are going to continue fighting on this issue.” National president Zippy Duvall also spoke, saying “I’ve got so much confidence in California Farm Bureau here to keep their eye on things. They do a tremendous job.”

Ag Alert. Young farmers and ranchers urged to be industry’s voice.
Synopsis: Young farmers and ranchers were reminded of their importance to the organization and agriculture overall by Farm Bureau president Shannon Douglass. Among those singled out for awards was the Stanislaus Young Farmers & Ranchers group for their cherry-gleaning event.

Westlands OKs more solar

Politico. Trump can’t break these farmers’ solar pivot.
Synopsis: Westlands Water District voted Tuesday night to support construction of solar farms on more than a quarter of its farmland. Already, giant solar-panel installations are under construction within the district, and this vote will pave the way for more. Six of Westlands’ 9 board members have already signed contracts with Golden State Clean Energy for massive solar panel installations and recused themselves from the vote. The other three were unanimous in support and not a single grower spoke against construction of additional projects. Westlands has fallowed 215,000 of its 614,700 acres in the past few years due to lack of irrigation water.

China pivots south for beans

Ag Daily. Latest Chinese investments reshaping future of US soybeans. 
Synopsis: A Chinese state agency is investing $3.5 billion in modernizing ports in Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina and Peru. In Brazil, the Beijing government is working with three US-based soybean exporters – Archer Daniels Midland, Bunge and Cargill – to facilitate additional shipments of Brazilian- and Argentine-grown soybeans to China. The investment represents a permanent “pivot away from US farmers in response to President Trump’s tariffs,” said one analyst. He said the “ports, railways, roads, bridges, metro lines, energy, power plants are probably the best signs that China has a long-term commitment” to buying South American soybeans, said an analyst with the Center for Strategic & International Studies. “These are long-term projects.” The American Farm Bureau’s analyst agrees that China’s pivot will “lock in” trade flows in South America and away from the US. It is similarly bad news for port workers in Los Angeles on the Gulf Coast.

Western Farm Press. Is South America a threat to West Coast agriculture?
Synopsis: Editor Tim Hearden talks to Walt Duflock of Western Growers, who says there is a “red-alert situation” facing California’s specialty crop growers. Duflock said he’s been getting a lot of interest from ag businesses in Peru who want to recruit CA investment and expertise to their country. As the “agricultural footprint” grows in Peru, there a corresponding shrinkage in California “where skyrocketing regulatory costs and lack of water are driving down production and pushing businesses away.” He noted that Peru’s ag exports have grown by a factor of 20x since 2004; CA’s has grown by less than 3x. He also noted that regulatory costs and fees now account for 12% of production costs in CA but are negligible in Peru. Meanwhile, Peru is investing $24 billion in water storage while authorizing private reservoirs.
MAD Take: These stories, taken together, are important. Clearly, Peru and other South American nations are intent on becoming the new California and China is helping them make that happen. While no one wants to see us in a “race to the bottom” in pay for workers, we need to take a closer look at regulatory costs – which average $1,600 an acre in CA, according to Cal Poly SLO.

More salmon than thought

Daily Republic. Early fall return estimate climbs to over 2,100 fish in Putah Creek.
Synopsis: Early salmon counts by Solano County Water Agency said roughly 1,300 salmon had come up Putah Creek to spawn – a good number. Turns out it was off by 60%. There have actually been a record 2,150 king salmon come up the creek to spawn. A press release called the number a “testament to the collaborative efforts” of water manager, landowners and scientists.
MAD Take: It is actually a testament to the resilience of salmon, who seem to be doing a lot better since commercial-fishing was banned three years ago. If we want to save salmon, stop killing them.

Homeless couple die in tent

Fresno Bee. Couple dies trying to stay warm in tent near Fresno highway: ‘They’d help out anybody.’
Synopsis: Friends and family are mourning the loss of two unhoused people who were found dead in a tent alongside Hwy 180 near Abby Street. Temperatures dipped to 39 degrees Monday night, contributing to the deaths of Denise Celis, 52, and Ronald Wallace, 50. It appears they built a fire inside the tent for heat. Toxicology tests are pending. “My father was a human being with a story and struggles, not a statistic,” said Wallace’s daughter. “Everyone deserves compassion, dignity and care.” Celis was the mother of five children. 

Kids get to shop with a cop

ABC30. Merced County children get holiday fun in ‘Shop with a Cop’ event.
Synopsis: Merced police officers partnered with children chosen by their schools, giving them money so they could buy gifts for themselves and for their families. The children were driven from their schools to meet their partners in blue at the Merced Mall. There they had lunch and a meet-and-greet with Santa.

Is that Santa crawling over there?

KSEE / CBS47. Fresno’s Santa pub crawl offers $1,500 in cash prizes. 
Synopsis: A Fresno bar is looking for publicity and has landed on the First Annual Mr. & Mrs. Bad Santa Pub Crawl to get it. There will be a treasure hunt of sorts and a costume contest for participants. Kocky’s Bar & Grill is sponsoring the event Saturday with prizes for the best Bad Santa and Mrs. Baddie. They’re looking for glam, bad and wild combined. The after-party will be at Mezcal with stops at other bars and breweries in between. 
MAD Take: You’d think they could wait until Dec. 26.