Kokkonen Blasts Judge's Ruling on Water

February 12, 2010
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:  Matt Kokkonen, 805-886-1880
                     Andrew Russo, 831-753-1419

SAN LUIS OBISPO-- 33rd Assembly District candidate Matt Kokkonen is strongly criticizing Wednesday’s decision by federal Judge Oliver W. Wanger cutting off water pumping to San Joaquin Valley farmers. Kokkonen said Wanger’s edict which closes down one of five delta pumps in the Valley to save the delta smelt fish "is another example of an out-of-control, rogue federal judiciary which is unaccountable to anyone and unanswerable to the people."

"California’s farmers are fighting for survival in the face of insane environmental regulations that put the interests of animals above the interests of human beings. Water is the lifeblood of agriculture. Without it, this industry dies."

Kokkonen said Judge Wanger’s decision which means a loss of 1,700 acre-feet of water per day "demonstrates the need for judicial reform. We must abolish life tenure for the federal judiciary and impose strict term limits and reconfirmation requirements on them. It is an outrage that the federal judiciary now has more power in this country than the Congress and the legislatures."

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Matt Kokkonen is a San Luis Obispo financial planner and political activist. In 2008, he was the Republican nominee for Congress in the 23rd District, receiving over 80,000 votes. Currently, he is a candidate for State Assembly in the 33rd District.