Assemblymember Portantino Introduces Bill to Secure ‘Super Scoopers’ to Fight California Fires

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 8, 2009
CONTACT: Michael Tamariz
(916) 319-2044

SACRAMENTO, CA – Assembly Member Anthony Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge), concerned with the potential record breaking fire season, has introduced legislation to implement a salary freeze on State employees who earn $150,000 or more and direct the estimated $19.5 million savings to go toward the purchase, rental, or lease of additional air resources to fight brush fires. If purchased the aircraft would be owned and operated by the State and be made available to fight large fires throughout California. “Large fires, like the Station Fire, which threatened homes in the 44th Assembly District and has spread to over 150,000 acres, are nothing new to California. Although there were significant air resources deployed to fight the blaze, we can always do more and add more tools to our tool box. In the event our fire season starts earlier than our leases on Super Scoopers or extends beyond our lease time, I want to make sure they are always ready and available for a quick response to any fire in California. Dedicating more resources now can only have a public benefit tomorrow. Certainly, we can find cost savings from freezing raises for our highest paid employees to accomplish this goal.” AB 80 3X will direct the money the State saves from freezing the salaries of the highest paid state employees to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for the sole purpose of purchasing or leasing aircraft capable of depositing at least 5,000 gallons of water, foam, or other fire suppressants in a single load. If the Department chooses to purchase an aircraft, it could be made available for lease to other states or countries in need when it is not in use within the State, allowing the new firefighting tool to pay for itself over time. Assembly Bill 80 3X was introduced in the 3rd Extraordinary Session, allowing it to be heard even after the September 11 deadline for the legislature to approve legislation. “In addition to this legislation, we need to provide a comprehensive funding source which can provide dedicated revenue for our world class mutual aide response. The Governor has assured us that we have the resources to fight the Station Fire and the other current fires in California. I want to make sure we have the same ability next year and the next decade.”