“It’s Very Important That These [Environmental] Laws Be Administered Fairly To Make Sure They Work Effectively.”

More than 400,000 acres of farmland have been fallowed, permanent crops have been uprooted and tens of thousands of people have lost their jobs due to the lack of water in the Central Valley. While Sen. Feinstein recognizes the severity of this water crisis, which has put tens of thousands of Californians out of work, Sen. Boxer continually refuses to stand up for the people of this state.

Her classic career politician answer? “It’s very important tat these [environmental] laws be administered fairly to make sure they work effectively.”

Here are the facts about Barbara Boxer and the California water crisis (via McClatchy News):

Water Is A Clearly Defined “Wedge Issue” For Fiorina Against Boxer. “The Central Valley drought is a dangerous opportunity for California politicians. Water cutbacks give office-seekers a chance to favor Valley farmers and denounce the status quo. Newcomers gain entree into a region where they are little known. And all that makes water a wedge issue for candidates like Carly Fiorina, now seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Barbara Boxer.”

Boxer Forced To Play Catch Up On Water And “Must Now Show She Feels The Valley's Pain And Is Doing Something About It.” “Incumbents, too, face a political challenge. Boxer, for one, is a longtime environmental champion who must now show she feels the Valley's pain and is doing something about it.”

Fiorina Pounced After The Announcement Of A 5% Water Allocation From State Officials. “Fiorina named Nunes as one of her four top water advisers. Their aggressive rhetoric is certainly aligned. When state irrigation officials announced Tuesday a 5 percent water allocation, both Fiorina and Nunes blamed Boxer for, as Fiorina put it, placing ‘a small fish ahead of the livelihood of California's farmers and farm workers.’ Boxer responded that she is ‘deeply concerned about the initial water allocations, which show the seriousness of this water crisis,’ and she stressed her support for projects that would help deliver more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.”

Boxer’s Fellow California Democrats Also Slammed The 5% Allocation. “The Valley's conventional wisdom is generally harshly put, as when Cardoza called the 5 percent allocation ‘an abomination,’ Costa called it ‘unacceptable’ and both suggested environmental rules should be loosened. ‘The state's water shortages are being exacerbated by the regulatory drought,’ Cardoza declared.”

Boxer’s Political Answer: “It’s Very Important That These [Environmental] Laws Be Administered Fairly To Make Sure They Work Effectively.” “‘Republicans and Democrats alike have enacted environmental laws to protect our air, our water and our environmental legacy,’ Boxer said. ‘It's very important that these laws be administered fairly to make sure they work effectively.’”

Despite Cutting Off Further Study Of Cap-And-Trade And Discounting Climategate, Boxer Says “The More Science The Better.” “Tellingly, Boxer recently joined Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein in supporting a National Academy of Sciences study into two ‘biological opinions’ that govern California irrigation deliveries. Farmers hope the second-guessing will result in revised water delivery decisions. Boxer doesn't go that far, instead emphasizing her belief that ‘the more science the better.’ The National Research Council staff is now assembling the committee to conduct the initial study, due next March.”

Boxer Has Traditionally Struggled With Central Valley Voters And Water Presents Another Political Problem. “Now chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Boxer thinks her long-standing support for improving California's water infrastructure has been frequently underestimated. This may be one reason why the former Marin County resident has traditionally struggled in the Valley. Running against former Fresno-area legislator Bill Jones in 2004, Boxer won Merced, Sacramento and San Joaquin counties but lost Fresno, Kings, Madera, Stanislaus and Tulare counties.”

Boxer Has Received 10 Times More In Campaign Contributions From Residents Of Beverly Hills Than From Residents Of Modesto. “In a more recent sign of where her political strength resides, Boxer has received 10 times more in campaign contributions from residents of Beverly Hills than from residents of Modesto, a compilation from CQ Moneyline shows.”

Other, Less Senior California Democrats Have “Historically Closer Ties” To The Central Valley Than Boxer. “Other incumbents with historically closer ties to Valley farmers, like Democratic Reps. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, and Jim Costa, D-Fresno, are even more aggressive in touting their work on farmers' behalf.”