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Today, President Barack Obama released his 2011 federal budget. At a total cost of $3.8 trillion, the Obama plan adds $1.6 trillion to the national debt. This reckless level of deficit spending comes despite $2 trillion in proposed tax increases.

In his budget, the President has shelved the Success Dam seismic safety project. For 2011, the project will receive only $500,000 – barely enough to keep it on life support.

“Shelving the replacement of Success Dam is irresponsible. The President is holding residents hostage and endangering the community below the dam. This action also extends the length of time the Army Corps of Engineers will have to keep the lake level low, significantly reducing area water supplies and increasing the risk of flood damage.”

The President’s budget does nothing to address valley water shortages. It ignores Delta pumping restrictions and instead provides $72 million to help restore a non-existent salmon run on the San Joaquin River. Implementation of the San Joaquin River Settlement, which should be suspended in light of the region’s water crisis, will compound regional water shortages by taking up to 500,000 acre feet of water from the east-side of the valley.

“This is a job killing, deficit exploding budget. The President is not only ignoring our water crisis but is promoting policies that make the crisis worse.”