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Doolittle pays Klamath Basin a visit
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| Bob Davis, left, of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's office in Klamath Falls talks Friday with Rep. John Doolittle. |
Republican gets look at water issues
published August 10, 2003
By BROOK REINHARD
NEWELL - Rep. John Doolittle visited the Klamath Basin Friday afternoon for his first look at the area he represents in the U.S. House.
"I'm not going to come up here and pretend to be the expert," he said to a small gathering of farmers, media representatives and officials from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. "You folks are the experts."
Doolittle, a Republican representing California's 4th Congressional District, said water conflicts in the Basin are caused by "bad science" and bureaucrats. The meeting was largely dominated by representatives from the Tulelake Growers Association, with Bureau of Reclamation officials getting about five minutes of time at the end of the session.
"We are in the same regime of 2001," said Marty Macy, president of the growers' association. "We have improved none."
Tulelake farmer John Crawford complimented Doolittle for his efforts in Congress and added farmers are relying on his continued support.
"After 2001, we've been in damage control since then," he said, adding that because of the water shutoff to irrigators that year, many farmers will be trying to eliminate noxious weeds on their farms "for the rest of their lives."
Doolittle has served in Washington since his election to the House in 1990. In 2002, California districts were redrawn, and Doolittle now serves the California counties formerly served by Rep. Wally Herger, including parts of the Klamath Basin.
As the secretary of the House Republican Conference, he is the sixth highest-ranking official elected by party members. Although he has seen the Basin before, this was his first trip to the area this year as its representative.
"It's good to be back," he said. "We didn't have these problems when I left last time."
published August 10, 2003
By BROOK REINHARD
NEWELL - Rep. John Doolittle visited the Klamath Basin Friday afternoon for his first look at the area he represents in the U.S. House.
"I'm not going to come up here and pretend to be the expert," he said to a small gathering of farmers, media representatives and officials from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. "You folks are the experts."
Doolittle, a Republican representing California's 4th Congressional District, said water conflicts in the Basin are caused by "bad science" and bureaucrats. The meeting was largely dominated by representatives from the Tulelake Growers Association, with Bureau of Reclamation officials getting about five minutes of time at the end of the session.
"We are in the same regime of 2001," said Marty Macy, president of the growers' association. "We have improved none."
Tulelake farmer John Crawford complimented Doolittle for his efforts in Congress and added farmers are relying on his continued support.
"After 2001, we've been in damage control since then," he said, adding that because of the water shutoff to irrigators that year, many farmers will be trying to eliminate noxious weeds on their farms "for the rest of their lives."
Doolittle has served in Washington since his election to the House in 1990. In 2002, California districts were redrawn, and Doolittle now serves the California counties formerly served by Rep. Wally Herger, including parts of the Klamath Basin.
As the secretary of the House Republican Conference, he is the sixth highest-ranking official elected by party members. Although he has seen the Basin before, this was his first trip to the area this year as its representative.
"It's good to be back," he said. "We didn't have these problems when I left last time."
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