house Bill H.R. 3281
Should it be Easier to Transfer Certain Federally-Operated Water Projects to Local Control?
Argument in favor
Transferring dams and reservoirs to local operators — be they states, tribes, or local water boards — is a win-win: it promotes non-federal investment in water infrastructure and more efficient management of water resources, while also reducing federal liabilities.
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07/12/2018
This seems like a simple call. Transfer of power away from the federal government to municipalities is a great way to decentralize power and reduce the overhead of federal programs. Giving local control to local agencies that are more in touch with the needs of the people they govern is the right move.
07/12/2018
Transferring dams and reservoirs to local operators — be they states, tribes, or local water boards — is a win-win: it promotes non-federal investment in water infrastructure and more efficient management of water resources, while also reducing federal liabilities. Get the federal government out of state and local affairs.
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07/12/2018
You guys are so misinformed. Transferring from Federal to Local is NOT privatization. It’s allowing the officials of a Local area who know their area to manage the project. If there is a water shortage in LA and they want to repurpose water from a reservoir to storage, should Washington DC manage that or the LA Water Commission? Which makes sense?
Argument opposed
This bill encourages the irresponsible privatization of valuable federal assets, such as dams and reservoirs, while weakening congressional oversight and limiting public input in the decision-making process. Existing transfer procedures should remain in effect.
07/12/2018
I’m sick to death of the privatization of natural resources. It hasn’t worked out well so far. There’s little oversight, no accountability and absolutely no transparency. Someone from the swamp is always getting paid off and damage is always done. By the time this is found out the lawmakers are now lobbyists and there is no one responsible for the disaster. No. Absolutely not. It should not be easier. It should be much much harder.
07/12/2018
Privatization of water infrastructure is what has led to the irresponsible over use by and groundwater mining that endangers the sustainability of our aquifers and watersheds. The for-profit motive of the private sector should not be involved with utilities that are critical to sustain life.
This seems like a simple call. Transfer of power away from the federal government to municipalities is a great way to decentralize power and reduce the overhead of federal programs. Giving local control to local agencies that are more in touch with the needs of the people they govern is the right move.
I’m sick to death of the privatization of natural resources. It hasn’t worked out well so far. There’s little oversight, no accountability and absolutely no transparency. Someone from the swamp is always getting paid off and damage is always done. By the time this is found out the lawmakers are now lobbyists and there is no one responsible for the disaster. No. Absolutely not. It should not be easier. It should be much much harder.
Privatization of water infrastructure is what has led to the irresponsible over use by and groundwater mining that endangers the sustainability of our aquifers and watersheds. The for-profit motive of the private sector should not be involved with utilities that are critical to sustain life.
More privatization of our natural resources? More pressure to deregulate for corporate profits? Really? NO!
Transferring dams and reservoirs to local operators — be they states, tribes, or local water boards — is a win-win: it promotes non-federal investment in water infrastructure and more efficient management of water resources, while also reducing federal liabilities. Get the federal government out of state and local affairs.
You guys are so misinformed. Transferring from Federal to Local is NOT privatization. It’s allowing the officials of a Local area who know their area to manage the project. If there is a water shortage in LA and they want to repurpose water from a reservoir to storage, should Washington DC manage that or the LA Water Commission? Which makes sense?
NO. No. no. Do you Congress people not realize that local people do not want, nor have the money & manpower for the upkeep of these federal projects. WHAT IS WRONG ?? Doesn’t the federal government have the money to take care of their projects??? OF COURSE IT DOESN’T.!!!! The tax cut bill gave all the federal government money to the RICH instead of using it for the upkeep of the country. Seems like Congress just wants the whole country to fall apart.
Privatization is a LOSER all the way around. It means nepotism and cronyism. Bad idea.
This bill is just a front for privatization of our federal water projects. Cash-strapped local governments and agencies are likely going to end up selling off these projects to private companies. This isn’t about efficiency or better management. This just about making money off our publicly-owned water projects.
This is just a baby step in the right direction! The BLM and the EPA are both unconstitutional agencies and should defunded, eliminated and provisions made by Congress that this type of agency never again exist at the federal level. All that they are involved in is usurping state constitutional authority. There is no situation I can imagine where some egghead bureaucrats a 1000 miles away know or understand any situation involving the land, water or air in a specific area better than the people that live and grow there!
No! Water systems, CWA projects and FERC dam licensing/relicensing must remain in the hands of the Fed. This idea is all part of former EPA head Scott Pruitt’s sinister plan which he titled “collaborative federalism”, which is nothing more than shifting federal responsibilities to states without funding the projects to cause oversight and regulatory program failures.
Private ownership is almost always better in our Republic of USA than control and direction by big government.
Why are the federally operated to begin with? I'd like to know where in Article 1 Section 8 Congress is granted this power.
Get as much as possible out of federal Govt. control is a good thing. We are the United STATES of America.
Privatization is not what we want. This is simply a way for private industry to make money from govt projects. It results in additional wasteful spending of taxpayers money.
Removing as much Federal Government overreach as possible is always the right choice.
It should not be that difficult. The started and the people who live in the area best know and understand their locality.
The more local the control, the more accountability you can exercise on those in charge.
Anytime we make government smaller we are doing the right thing. Our government was not created to be as controlling as it is!!! We are on the verge of communistic principles when it co es to the size and control of our government!!!