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"Want water with that rice?"

Lloyd G Carter Blog - Mon, 08/16/2010 - 11:29

   Mike Wade of the California Farm Water Coalition made the following comment (Aug. 11) about the Hay/ Rice/drought posting:  "'up to as much as 100 inches per acre' for rice is an outrageous claim and a blatant attempt to spread false information."

  That estimate - up to 100 inches of water for some problem rice soils - comes from a paper on rice economics written by Dr. Elmer Learn, professor emeritus at UC Davis Department of Agriculture Economics, and an Executive Vice Chairman emeritus at UC Davis.  You can read Dr. Learn's 1993 paper HERE and judge for yourself.  The authors never implied ALL rice requires 100 inches of water a year. 

     If Mr. Wade is going to accuse the authors of a blatant attempt to spread false information he also needs to level that charge at Dr. Learn and UC Davis.

- Patrick Porgans & Lloyd Carter  READ MORE »

Categories: Further Reading

Emmitt Smith the Contribution Champ, Politicians Who Return Money and More in Capital Eye Opener: August 16

Open Secrets - Sun, 08/15/2010 - 21:23
With the National Football League season upon us, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame having recently enshrined its class of 2010, it's worth noting that just one inductee has ever used his vast wealth to make a reportable federal campaign donation. Dave Levinthal http://www.opensecrets.org/about/staff.php#levinthal
Categories: Further Reading

Who is funding the California Farm Water Coalition?

Lloyd G Carter Blog - Fri, 08/13/2010 - 12:32

 

David Zetland of the Aguanomics website has been poking around trying to find out who actually funds the California Farm Water Coalition.  To learn more, click here: http://aguanomics.com/

 

 

   READ MORE »

Categories: Further Reading

Voters Reject Wealthy Candidates, Texas Gubernatorial Candidate Promises New Ethics Standards and More in Capital Eye Opener: August 13

Open Secrets - Fri, 08/13/2010 - 07:20
Two leading advocates for campaign finance reform in Florida have done an about face in a primary race for attorney general. Democrats Dave Aronberg and Dan Gelber have both set up political action committee accepting large checks from special interests to pay for negative attack ads, the Miami Herald reports. Both candidates said unilaterally disarming in this campaign cash battle would put them at a disadvantage. Andrew Kreighbaum http://www.opensecrets.org/news
Categories: Further Reading

527 Groups Find Big Donors, Resort Company Donates Big Despite Loss and More in Capital Eye Opener: August 12

Open Secrets - Thu, 08/12/2010 - 08:15
Individuals -- many of them wealthy CEOs and executives from some of the nation’s more moneyed businesses -- contributed more than $20.5 million to 527 political action groups in the second quarter of 2010, according to a Center for Responsive Politics analysis. Spencer MacColl http://www.opensecrets.org/about/staff.php#maccoll
Categories: Further Reading

Florida Political Operative Plans to Raise Unlimited Contributions to Tout Kendrick Meek's Senate Candidacy

Open Secrets - Wed, 08/11/2010 - 14:08
The Florida political operative who was the finance director of Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign in the Sunshine State has created a political committee to tout the Senate candidacy of Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.) using unlimited contributions, the Center for Responsive Politics has learned. Michael Beckel http://www.opensecrets.org/about/staff.php
Categories: Further Reading

Facebook and Its Former Chief Privacy Officer Get Political as Online Privacy Debate Rages

Open Secrets - Wed, 08/11/2010 - 09:20
Offline and online, arguments rage that Facebook is not taking privacy concerns seriously enough. And as public ire has focused on Facebook’s privacy policies, Chris Kelly, the company’s former chief privacy officer, has become a highly political figure -- running for the post of attorney general in California and donating tens of thousands of dollars to fellow Democrats. Michael Beckel http://www.opensecrets.org/about/staff.php
Categories: Further Reading

Baucus Hosts Getaway for Donors, Rangel Delivers Defiant Floor Speech and More in Capital Eye Opener: August 11

Open Secrets - Wed, 08/11/2010 - 07:30
BAUCUS HOSTS "FAMILY WEEKEND" IN MONTANA FOR BIG DONORS: In what has become an annual event, big-time supporters of Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) will pay $2,500 for individuals or $5,000 for political action committees for a weekend getaway at the Big Sky resort, Politico reports. Government watchdog organizations have criticized such events as selling access to lawmakers. Andrew Kreighbaum http://www.opensecrets.org/news
Categories: Further Reading

HAY! DOUBT ABOUT THE DROUGHT?

Lloyd G Carter Blog - Tue, 08/10/2010 - 23:28
Making hay and burning up water in the desert sun – Shipping Rice and Hay (and lots of water) to Japan – Does it make sense? Is it sustainable? All this while California water officials cry drought

By Patrick Porgans and Lloyd G. Carter  READ MORE »

Categories: Further Reading

Insurgent Senate Candidates Fueled By Small Donors Test Establishment Picks, Upset One in Colorado

Open Secrets - Tue, 08/10/2010 - 22:45
Donors giving $200 or less helped propel anti-establishment challengers in both the Republican and Democratic U.S. Senate primaries in Colorado, where voters Tuesday backed a conservative Republican favored by many Tea Party activists and nearly ousted the third incumbent senator this year. Michael Beckel http://www.opensecrets.org/about/staff.php
Categories: Further Reading

Zeke Grader, Executive Director Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman's Associations Prepared Statement

Lloyd G Carter Blog - Tue, 08/10/2010 - 16:47

Here is the prepared statement (and cover letter) of Zeke Grader, Executive Director Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, before the California State Senate Select Committee on Delta Conservation, Conveyance & Governance during testimony in Sacramento on August 9, 2010. Zeke has been a tireless champion of California’s fisheries for decades. CLICK HERE:  READ MORE »

Categories: Further Reading

Livingston, Merced County, California Illegally Expanding Wastewater Treatment Plant?

Lloyd G Carter Blog - Tue, 08/10/2010 - 16:42

Citizen activists Colette Alvernaz and Gerri Martin have written a public letter accusing the city of Livingston in Merced County of illegally expanding its Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plant adjacent to the Merced River, in violation of California’s Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The public letter alleges the City of Livingston under the leadership of City Manager Richard Warne is intentionally and significantly expanding its Wastewater Treatment Plant with no Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in place. To read more, click HERE:  READ MORE »

Categories: Further Reading

Growing Electricity

Lloyd G Carter Blog - Tue, 08/10/2010 - 16:36

Growing electricity in the Westlands? Read New York Times article on solar power as the new West Side crop. To learn more, click here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/11/business/energy-environment/11solar.html?_r=1  
   READ MORE »

Categories: Further Reading

SAFE TO SWIM STUDY

Lloyd G Carter Blog - Tue, 08/10/2010 - 16:30

The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board is preparing to conduct a region wide Safe to Swim study throughout the Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Tulare Basins. To accomplish this, we are looking for citizen monitors to assist in identifying sample sites and assist in sample collection.

   READ MORE »

Categories: Further Reading

Wall Street-Related Political Contributions Shift Toward Republicans

Open Secrets - Tue, 08/10/2010 - 13:03
Financial firms and the people who work for them are increasingly donating their political cash to Republicans, a preliminary Center for Responsive Politics analysis of federal campaign finance data indicates. Dave Levinthal http://www.opensecrets.org/about/staff.php#levinthal
Categories: Further Reading

Obama's Pay-to-Play Dream Team, Labor Lobbying Push and More in Capital Eye Opener: August 10

Open Secrets - Tue, 08/10/2010 - 08:15
Several of the players on President Barack Obama's basketball party dream team made sizable contributions to his presidential campaign and/or related Democratic political committees, the Center for Responsive Politics finds. Patrick Margolis
Categories: Further Reading

'Superplex Tuesday' Heralds Mighty Primary Battle Royales Ahead of November Midterms

Open Secrets - Mon, 08/09/2010 - 21:29
We here at OpenSecrets Blog hereby deem today "Superplex Tuesday" in honor of a U.S. Senate race in Connecticut that's practically beyond superlative. Dave Levinthal http://www.opensecrets.org/about/staff.php#levinthal
Categories: Further Reading

OpenSecrets Blog's PolitiQuizz: Name This Dizzying Industry

Open Secrets - Mon, 08/09/2010 - 14:29
Here at OpenSecrets.org, we love to talk about our Revolving Door section. That's because ours is the most comprehensive resource for information on some of Washington's most influential insiders -- former members of Congress or federal employees who utilize their experience and connections to help special interests gain access to the government and the legislative process... Evan Mackinder http://www.opensecrets.org/about/staff.php
Categories: Further Reading

Gay-Friendly Companies: Is GOP Senate Candidate Sharron Angle Trying to Have it Both Ways With Their Money?

Open Secrets - Mon, 08/09/2010 - 13:37
Angle, to date, hasn't raised a dime from any corporate PAC, but according to a Center for Responsive Politics analysis, she has taken at least $8,900 from leaders of companies known to offer employee benefits to same-sex spouses or that operate in jurisdictions that recognize marriage between same-sex couples. Michael Beckel http://www.opensecrets.org/about/staff.php
Categories: Further Reading

Obama Stumping for Texas Democrats, Tea Parties Holding Bag and More in Capital Eye Opener: August 9

Open Secrets - Mon, 08/09/2010 - 07:45
The Tea Party movement has not been short on enthusiasm or media coverage this year, but its members have little interest in raising funds for candidates and it has yet to recruit the biggest donors from the conservative movement, Politico reports. The lack of fundraising success has persisted despite training by a nonprofit that teaches conservative grassroots groups how to influence politics. Andrew Kreighbaum http://www.opensecrets.org/news
Categories: Further Reading

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