In My Own Words

Let public review bills before vote

March 15, 2013

By Lois Wolk and Kristin Olsen

Each year the California Legislature considers thousands of proposed new laws. After extensive public review and input in multiple committees in both houses, the Legislature approves several hundred of these laws that go to the governor for his signature. At least that's what is supposed to happen.

Sacramento Bee, Viewpoints: Water challenges need a viable bond measure

December 19, 2012

By Lois Wolk
Special to the Bee

Too often in California, urgent water needs are neglected as political posturing prevents reasonable, consensus-based solutions from moving forward.

Sacramento Bee, Viewpoints: Delta can’t be restored on a wink and a promise

July 26, 2012

By Lois Wolk
Special to the Bee

Yesterday, Governor Brown and Interior Secretary Salazar committed to the construction of a massive two tunnel project in the Delta, without any certain plan to protect and restore the dying Delta ecosystem.  They ask us to “trust” that sometime over the next 15 years, an extraordinarily complex and scientifically valid plan will emerge, along with the billions of dollars to pay for it.

Daily Democrat: Time to start fixing the Delta fix

January 10, 2010

By Lois Wolk 

In this season of New Year’s resolutions, it is natural to reflect on the past and set goals for the year ahead. 

Just two months ago, the Governor and legislative leadership hailed the recently enacted water deal as a monumental step forward to save Delta.

The Sacramento Bee, Viewpoints: It's time to reboot state's budget process

September 24, 2009

By Sen. Lois Wolk
Special to the Bee

"Abort. Retry. Fail?" It's happened to all of us. Right in the middle of an urgent project, the screen freezes, locks up, crashes – hours of work lost forever. We curse our computer for the thousandth time and swear we'll toss it and get a new one. But we can't. We've got a deadline, so we reconstruct our work and put off fixing our computer problem until tomorrow.

The Sacramento Bee: Delta residents must have say in Delta plan

August 07, 2009

By Sen. Lois Wolk
Special to The Bee 

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is a land of paradoxes. The Delta's fertile soil and pleasant climate provide for half a million acres of farmland and nearly half a million residents. Yet most of the Delta's lands lie below sea level. The Delta is also one of the most valuable sources of water for much of California. Yet it is nearly unknown to the vast majority of Californians.

Vacaville Reporter: Rethinking Tax System

April 28, 2009

By Lois Wolk

While reasonable minds may disagree about what caused the current global economic collapse, few can deny that our local, state and national economies are in crisis. The evidence is all around us: foreclosures, loan defaults, increasing unemployment.

This economic downturn exceeds anything the country has seen since the Great Depression. But perhaps more surprising is that in the 80 years since, California hasn't fundamentally changed its revenue system to help prevent this sort of fiscal crisis.

San Francisco Chronicle: State must rescue delta from crisis

April 12, 2009

By George Miller, Lois Wolk

California's Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, the largest estuary on the Pacific Coast of the Americas, is in crisis. Multiple species of fish are in rapid decline. First the delta smelt, and then the steelhead and salmon that once migrated through the estuary by the tens of thousands. Now, even the orcas that feed on the salmon are threatened. The dominoes are falling every day.

CALTAC October 2008 newsletter: Why I Support Libraries

October 14, 2008

California Association of Library Trustees and Commissioners
October-December 2008 Newsletter, Issue 4

By Senator Lois Wolk

Syndicate content