Get an update on the status of the Delta's water. While an effort to hand control over Governor Schwarzenegger and his cronies was thwarted, there is still a possibility of it happening while broader issues regarding the water in the state of California could be impacted during the on going budget crisis.

*** Late add to the program**** Assemblyperson Nancy Skinner, chair of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, will talk about how she views water resources in California and what role her committee should play in making decisions about those resources.

We'll also hear about EBMUD's efforts to meet our water needs in increasingly dry years. There are dam issues, water allocations and conservation measures that face EBMUD this year.

Plus get the latest on Public and State Options in federal health insurance efforts

BONUS: Report on Netroots Nation 2009

East Bay DFA Meetup
Wednesday, October 14

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6:30 Pizza and Social Networking

7:00 Program

Tuesday, August 4, Democrats introduced five bills "intended to increase water conservation, improve the monitoring of who uses water and how much, and to create a politically appointed council that would have broad authority over the delta, including the ability to approve a controversial pipeline around the estuary." (San Francisco Chronicle, emphasis added)

The "controversial pipeline" would be none other than the old peripheral canal. Four of the seven members of the council would be appointed by the Governor.

The leadership's intent was to fast track the bills during the Special Session August 17 - September 11 without review by the Assembly and Senate environmental committees, including the Committee on Natural Resources, chaired by Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner. Fortunately, the bill was not acted, however it is now shelved and could be reactivated in the next legislative session.

DAVID NESMITH of the Environmental Water Caucus will give us an update on doings in Sacramento and present background on the ecology and politics of California water issues. The Environmental Water Caucus represents 30 member organizations (including Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Working Group, Natural Resources Defense Council, Planning and Conservation League, etc.) on State water issues.

NANCY SKINNER, representing the 14th Assembly District, will talk about what role the Natural Resources Committee which she chairs should play in making decisions about water resources and their allocation. Since her committee played no role in vetting the bills put forward by the Speaker, it will be very interesting to hear her plans for the next round of legislative work on the pressing issue of water resources.

ANDY KATZ, a Director of the East Bay Municipal Utility District, is going to talk about how EBMUD plans on meeting the shortfall in water delivery from the Mokelumne River. Part of the discussion will be on whether new sources of water should be looked at first, or whether reduced demand can be a bigger part of the solution. He'll have something that we can do at the meeting to help our voices be heard at EBMUD.

We'll also get the latest news on healthcare legislation in Congress, including the status of the public option for health insurance, and allowing state option to enact single payer.

AND hopefully Aaron will give us a report on all the doings at Netroots Nation 2009.

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See you soon!

United we Meetup,
Aaron, Janet S., Tara, Frances, Vince, Yvonne, Sean, Janet F, Mark and Norman
Your DFA Meetup Team