The Desert Sun Editorial Board
While The Desert Sun is disappointed the state Legislature ended its session last week without approving a budget, the four lawmakers who represent the Coachella Valley have made significant contributions in various ways.
By the measure of legislation sent to the governor, veteran state Sen. Denise Ducheny led the way with 13 bills and one concurrent resolution on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk. You would expect the most senior legislator from the majority party to be in this position. Because of term limits, this is her last year in the Legislature.
Most significant for the Coachella Valley was the creation of the Salton Sea Restoration Council. This would create a 16-member panel with the goal of implementing the state's preferred plan to restore the state's largest lake. Local stakeholders opposed the bill because 10 of the members would be state representatives, but if this is what it takes get action on the Salton Sea, we're for it.
Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez, our other Democrat, had an impressive freshman term. He has 12 bills pending, including one to expedite filters to keep arsenic out of drinking water in east valley mobile home parks.
State Sen. Bill Emmerson, a Republican who made the leap from Assembly to the Senate to fill the seat vacated by Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit, has six bills pending. Most significant is one to build six lanes along 14 miles of Highway 91, perhaps the biggest traffic nightmare in Southern California. It also would add lanes along six miles of Interstate 15.
Assemblyman Brian Nestande has no bills pending, although two were signed earlier, including one to require that deed-holders be notified when new deed is recorded on their property. The freshman Republican from Palm Desert does some of his best work on the three committees he serves on — budget, education, and revenue and taxation.
For instance, during the special session to compete for federal Race to the Top funding, Nestande pushed for veterans in science, engineering and technology to become teachers without going through the full credential program. A version of this idea was picked up in another bill that was signed by the governor.
Many voters tend to boo the Legislature but applaud their legislators. You can put The Desert Sun in that category. We thank Ducheny for her years of service and encourage the others to keep fighting for things that make sense.
