Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/315771
ByHenryC.Jackson The Associated Press WASHINGTON The House passed the closest thing so far this year to an infra- structure bill — a $12 billion- plus bipartisan measure au- thorizing 34 water projects, ranging from flood protec- tion in California and North Dakota to deepening the Port of Savannah and wid- ening a Texas-Louisiana wa- terway that services the oil industry. The Water Resources Re- form and Development Act passed Tuesday on a 412-4 vote. Lawmakers shook off criticism from conservative and watchdog groups like HeritageAction andTaxpay- ers for Common Sense that argued the bill should have done more to rein in wasteful government spending. The Senate could vote on the bill before the end of the week, sending it to Presi- dent Barack Obama for his signature. The legislation is a bipartisan compromise of companion bills passed sepa- rately by the House and Sen- ate last year. After months of negotiations, a final deal on it was reached last week. Supporters, including business interests like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce hailed it an economy-boost- ing measure that could de- liver thousands of new jobs. "It's going to keep Amer- ica competitive," said Rep. Bill Shuster, chairman of the House Transportation Com- mittee. Shuster, R-Pa., and other lawmakers also argued the bill was more fiscally respon- siblethanpastwaterprojects bills. On the House floor, he noted the bill puts an end to $18 billion in dormant water projects passed before 2007. That was not enough for some critics. A Taxpayers for Common Sense analysis released this week called the bill "a missed opportunity to reform management of our nation's infrastructure in a fiscally responsible manner." With an estimated cost of $12.3 billion, the measure is a slimmer version of past wa- ter project bills. The last one in 2010, for example, had a price tag of $23.3 billion. The new bill addresses pent-up demands by law- makers, including address- ing flooding concerns in places like Fargo, North Da- kota and the Natomas Basin in the Sacramento, Califor- nia area. The bill authorizes spend- ing up to $800 million for a flood diversion project that would protect the Red River Valley region of North Da- kota and Minnesota, which includes Fargo. The region has suffered major flooding four of the past five years. In California, the bill al- lows as much as $760 million infederalspendingforaproj- ect that would strengthen le- vees of the Natomas Basin in the Sacramento area, which could protect more than 100,000 residents. There are also big invest- ments in projects that im- prove infrastructure for commerce. The bill sanctions more than $748 million in federal funds for dredging and wid- ening of the Sabine-Neches Waterway, which is billed as "America's Energy Gate- way" because the roughly 80-mile waterway services oil and natural gas refiner- ies in Texas and Louisiana. It also includes approval of up to $492 million for ex- panding and deepening the Port of Savannah, one of the country's fastest growing ports. Actual funding of all the projects will require sep- arate bills. Congress is expected to consider another key infra- structure bill before the end of the year. A Senate panel last week approved a bill to keep federal highway pro- grams going for the next six years, but it remains uncer- tain whether Congress will complete its work in time to stop a disruption in trans- portation aid to states this summer. Besides authorizing spe- cific water projects, Tues- day's bill makes changes to how future projects are to seek funding. It sets spe- cific time and cost limits for studies on potential projects, eliminates duplicative Army Corps of Engineers reviews andspeedsupenvironmental review process for projects. The bill also increases spending from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to pay for improvements to ports and creates a five-year pilot program to provide loans and loan guarantees for various water projects. WASHINGTON, D.C. Ho us e ap pr ov es $ 12 b ill io n- pl us w at er b ill Flood protection projects planned for California THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Dana McGregor's pet goats Pismo, le , and Goatee surf at San Onofre State Beach in San Clemente. McGregor's hometown of Pismo Beach is considering changes to city codes that would allow him to legally keep the goats at his home and let them graze on city land. The Associated Press PISMOBEACH Pismo Beach is on board with surfing goats. But grazing goats can be a bummer. Three goats — Grover, Pismo and Goatee — have become celebrities in the city on California's Central Coast and on YouTube af- ter owner Dana McGregor taught them to surf. But McGregor has gotten pricey tickets recently for letting them graze within city limits, and he is violat- ing codes by keeping them at all. Goats are allowed on larger lots and for tem- porary clearing of plants, which is why McGregor said he got a goat in the first place. The San Luis Obispo Tri- bune reports Tuesday the city is considering allowing up to three goats on smaller lots and allowing them in parks on leashes. They remain legal and welcome at the beach. Pismo Beach: Surfing goats OK, grazing another issue OFF THE FARM The Associated Press SAN DIEGO A third defen- dant pleaded guilty Tues- day in a multimillion-dol- lar bribery investigation in- volving a Singapore-based defense contractor charged with providing cash, vaca- tions, electronics and pros- titutes in exchange for clas- sified information. Daniel Layug, 27, admitted providing classified shipping schedules and other internal Navy information to Glenn Defense Marine Asia Ltd. in exchange for $1,000 a month, a digital camera and other gadgets and travel, including hotelstaysinMalaysia,Singa- pore and Indonesia. Layug, a petty officer who was stationed as a logistics specialistinYokosuka,Japan, faces a maximum sentence of fiveyearsinprisonwhenheis sentencedSept. 2 for conspir- acy to commit bribery. The investigation centers on Leonard Glenn Francis, known in military circles as "Fat Leonard," and his com- pany, which has serviced Navy ships for 25 years. Francis was arrested in Sep- tember and has pleaded not guilty in the case that also al- leges the company overbilled the Navy at least $20 million for port services since 2009. Six people have been charged, including Cmdr. JoseLuisSanchezandCmdr. Michael Vannak Khem Mis- iewicz, who have pleaded not guilty. An agent with the Na- val Criminal Investigative Service, John Beliveau II, and a manager for the con- tractor, Alex Wisidagama, pleaded guilty. NAVY INVESTIGATION Third person pleads guilty in bribery probe By Terry Collins The Associated Press SANFRANCISCO San Fran- cisco transit leaders will temporarily close a stretch of Lombard Street, a tourist spot known as the "Crooked- est Street in The World." On Tuesday, the city's Municipal Transportation Agency unanimously ap- provedapilotclosuretovehi- clesontheoft-photographed, well-traveled curvy and winding thoroughfare for four consecutive weekends starting in late June and in- cluding the Fourth of July weekend during the busy summer tourist season. About an average of 2,000 vehicles travel on the street each weekend day during that period, the city said. WhatisLombard Street? The world famous scenic, hilly street in San Francis- co's Russian Hill neighbor- hood been featured on TV, in movies— and even video games — is known for its one-block stretch of wind- ing brick road that consists of eight sharp, hairpin turns. Attracting hundreds of thou- sands annually, tourists pre- fer to take snapshot pan- oramic views of the city at the top and then drive down the crooked street with flower gardens at every cor- ner like it's an amusement park ride. It is perhaps the most popular tourist desti- nation in San Francisco be- sides the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, the Cable Cars and Fisherman's Wharf. Why close it? The temporary closing idea came at the request of Supervisor Mark Farrell and a steady stream of com- plaints by some residents wanting to curb the street's chronic gridlock, especially during the summer. "This will be a test to im- provethesafetyforresidents, pedestrians and motorists in the area," MTA spokes- man Paul Rose said. "There are often a lot of people who come to either take pictures or drive down the street and it can cause lengthy delays." Whatdotouriststhink? Tourist Dylan Giordano, 21, of Los Angeles, agreed, as he took in the scenery Tuesday with his family visiting from Florida. "It's an insane amount of traffic and it must be difficult and obnoxious for the wealthy residents who live here and can't even get into their own driveway," said Giordano, who just graduated from the University of Southern California with his degree in Environmental and Ur- ban Planning. What's the impact? The city will evaluate what impact the temporary closure will have and may seek to shut down Lombard Street more often, Rose said. No permanent shutdown is being considered — yet. SIGHTSEEING Famous San Francisco street to see summer closing MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Motorists make their way down Lombard Street in San Francisco. The city's crooked street could soon be closed to tourists in the summertime. By Justin Pritchard The Associated Press LOS ANGELES Federal transportation officials are promising another big dose of cash to help expand Los Angeles' growing pub- lic transit network — this time, $2.1 billion in grants and loans to extend a sub- way line into Beverly Hills. The agreements, set to be signed Wednesday, continue a rail renaissance in a city long stereotyped as too car dependent to care for public transit. Major construction would begin next year, mak- ing the Purple Line the fifth that the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transpor- tation Authority is either building or extending. Construction of the three new stations and 4 miles of tracks from the Koreatown neighborhood to the eastern edge of Beverly Hills should be complete in 2023, Metro projects. The total projected cost is $2.8 billion, and Metro would have to come up with the balance that isn't cov- ered by the $2.1 billion fed- eral commitment, mostly through a sales tax increase that Los Angeles County voters approved several years ago. Of the federal total, $856 million comes as a low-in- terest loan and $1.25 billion from grants that the U.S. Department of Transpor- tation agrees to include in its annual budget request to Congress, according to the office of Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. While lawmakers would have to approve the money — projected at an av- erage of $100 million for 12 years — this kind of grant is typically funded in full. After reaching into Bev- erly Hills, Metro wants to continue under the city and end the extension at a Vet- erans Affairs hospital on the west side of Los Ange- les. That would require two further phases covering another 5 miles and four additional stations, with an anticipated price tag of another $3.5 billion and pro- jected end date of 2036. Opponents of the exten- sion have sued, saying the tracks should not go under Beverly Hills High School, as Metro currently plans. An attorney represent- ing the Beverly Hills Uni- fied School District in one of those lawsuits said that while a federal court case is still on track, the district is also discussing with U.S. transportation officials the possibility of mediation. TRANSPORTATION LA subway gets federal boost REED SAXON — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Tentative plans call for drilling a subway tunnel 70feet beneath the campus of Beverly Hills High School. Los Angeles' growing public transit network is receiving another big dose of cash from the federal government. ThePassingParadeisbroughttoyoubybyMinchPropertyManagement, 760 Main Street specializing in commercial leasing and sales. 530 527 5514 THE PASSING PARADE (From Dave Minch's I Say column of March 1959) Mr.Trimble,appointedtothepositionoffulltime assistant to the District Attorney seems to please everyone. I have heard fine reports about him, particularly the work he did as public defender in the case of the State vs. Ron Smith. … In Steve Ancell's annual report of Tehama County Farm Income for 1958, one item struck me in particular. 28,440 acres in alfalfa and grain grossed $36.00 per acre. Much of this same land, leveled, irrigated and planted to orchards would gross 10 to 20 times this amount per acre each year. … Many dream of the day when they can quit work and do the things they like. Some want to play golf, others to fish, some to branch out into a hobby that they always wanted to pursue. Some would like to live in Florida, others an island like Tahiti. But of all the dreams, few are realized. Most people just keep doing the same things they have always done in the same way until death overtakes them. However, Walt and Chris Forbes are different. For a number of years, Walt worked for us at the plant as yard man receiving livestock. He and his wife also developed projects such as the Pair of Dice Trailer Court and they bought, renovated and sold houses and apartments at a profit. About a month ago, Walt told me that he was leaving April 1st and not to hold his job open for him. He said he and his wife were going to start with a race horse they owned and follow the smaller county fairs through Oregon, Washington and California, racing their horses when they were so inclined and for as long as they wished. The richest man in the world could ask for no more than to enjoy himself to the fullest every day doing what he most enjoys.* Dave Minch 1900-1964 * During his many years at the plant, Walt Forbes entertained us with his stories of riding the rails during the depression and having to dodge baton welding goons hired by the railroad to clear the freight cars of hoboes. Father applauded Walt's retirement and the decision to try their hand in the competitive world of horse racing, which was his and Chris' dream come true. However, good things sometimes come to an unsatisfactory end, and years later, after the death of Chris, he apparently became depressed. Soon thereafter the guys at the plant were saddened to hear that Walt had taken his own life. I'll never forget him and his reciting to me the scatological poetry of the open road which he had committed to memory. I still remember them now after 50 years have passed. They were mostly suitable for adorning outhouse walls for the enjoyment of other peripatetic kings of the road, but were also appreciated in the blue collar atmosphere of our old plant. Robert Minch 1929- WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2014 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |NEWS | 7 A