Political Quotes

“this letter, sent by Governor Kempthorne on December 11, says: The water conservation program-- The water proposals I am talking about right now in this bill-- are not consistent with the laws of the 18 Western States, including those of the State of Idaho. In addition, the goal of implementing water quantity and water quality improvement demonstrated to be required for species listed under the Endangered Species Act can largely be achieved under existing State laws. My point is that the objective of this language we are talking about is certainly worthwhile: getting water, quantity and quality, to the species that need them. But the States already have programs in place to achieve these objectives, and it is achieved very successfully in Idaho. Governor Kempthorne goes on to point out: In Idaho, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has been able to rent water from the State water supply bank from willing sellers pursuant to State law for almost a decade. More recently, the Bureau has rented water while in the Lemhi River, a tributary of the Salmon River, for the benefit of fish species. Again, this was done under the auspices of State law in cooperation with willing sellers. My point again is that State law already provides mechanisms for the objectives of this water language to be achieved.”