The Senator Reports

November 19th, 2009

Yet Another Example of Wasteful Spending
By Senator Mark Wyland (R-Carlsbad)

It’s a sad but true fact that California suffers from a long history of wasteful spending with little to show for it. It seems that daily new examples of ways the state can save money abound, yet the majority party in the Legislature does little to take action.

The latest example is the $3 billion California spends on obtaining and operating state computer systems. While it’s of course vital to invest in this technology, there are areas of this program that could be improved, potentially saving time and money. In fact, the non-partisan Legislative Analysts Office recently recommended changes that would create competition among vendors and not follow such a “one-size-fits-all” approach.

Examples like this prove why we need a definitive auditing system, like my measure Senate Bill 9. It’s imperative that we conduct thorough performance evaluations on every state program and expenditure to ensure that California is spending your money as wisely as possible.

Senator Mark Wyland represents the people of the 38th Senate District, which includes cities in north San Diego County and the south Orange County cities of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.

Senator Mark Wyland
1910 Palomar Point Way, Suite 105
Carlsbad, California 92008
760.931.2455 Office
email: senator.wyland@sen.ca.gov

Desalination Facility Closer to Reality
By Assemblyman Martin Garrick

Carlsbad’s new desalination facility appears to be closer to reality after officials announced they had resolved the remaining funding issues that are a key piece in developing the massive project.

Scheduled to come on-line in 2012, the plant will service 300,000 San Diego County residents and will provide a more stable source of quality drinking water. The plant will be located at the Encina Power Station and will generate up to 50 million gallons per day.
Desalination facilities are largely foreign to the West Coast but have been used around the world for centuries. In fact, over 120 countries currently rely on desalination to supply a significant portion of their drinking water.

It is my hope that the desalination project and the recent passage of major water resource projects by the Legislature will finally give San Diego County a reliable and safe supply of this precious resource.

Assemblyman Martin Garrick serves the communities of Carlsbad, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos, Vista, and portions of San Diego, Escondido and Oceanside as the Assemblyman for the 74th District.