WSJ article baselessly alleges Dems trying to trade water allocations for health care votes

WSJ's baseless allegation: Dems trying to make “deal” for water supplies in return for health care vote. From a text box accompanying an article in the March 20 print edition of The Wall Street Journal headlined, "Health-Bill Horse Trading":

Democratic Deal Making

Lawmakers looking for rewards to vote yes on health care overhaul

[...]

Action: Additional water supplies to central California

Targets: California Democratic Reps. Dennis Cardoza and Jim Costa

Result: The lawmakers remain undecided.

[...]

-Source: WSJ Reporting

WSJ cites no evidence to support allegation of water for vote deal making. Neither the text box nor the accompanying article cites any evidence that the government increased the water supplies for central California in an attempt to win the votes of Cardoza or Costa. Indeed, the accompanying article does not mention water at all. A March 18 Journal article reported that “Republicans also accused Democrats of cutting deals to secure the votes of wavering lawmakers” and referenced the water allocation increase, but that article contained denials from both Cardoza and Costa and stated that "[b]oth lawmakers asked for nearly twice what they were awarded by the administration."

WSJ article echoes baseless conspiracy theory pushed by Journal's editorial pages and other right-wing outlets. A March 19 Wall Street Journal editorial stated that “Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced on Tuesday that central California would get extra public water allocations.” The editorial claimed that the increased water allocations were “apparently the price for Democrats Dennis Cardoza and Jim Costa to vote something other than their consciences” on health care reform. Investor's Business Daily, National Review Online, and Fox News' Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity also ran with the baseless allegation. On his radio show, Beck went so far as to say about the increased water allocation: “That's so far past the line of evil, I mean I don't even recognize a government that does that.”

WSJ's own reporting stated that allocation increase is due to more winter rain

Earlier WSJ article: Interior secretary increased water allocations after El Niño rains “raised the mountain snowpack” in California. In a March 17 article, The Wall Street Journal noted that California's Central Valley had been experiencing severe drought, and that the valley would receive “a sharp increase in federal water supplies.” The article further reported, “The increase is made possible, [Department of Interior Secretary Ken] Salazar said, in part because winter rains have helped replenish the state's biggest reservoir, Lake Shasta, which now stands at 81% of capacity, compared with 55% a year ago.” Salazar also reportedly “said he moved up the announcement by a week or so 'because people on the ground and farming need to have certainty.' ” The Journal reported that Salazar's announcement “further eas[ed] drought concerns in a state where El Niño rains have raised the mountain snowpack after three severely dry years.” The March 17 Journal article contained no suggestion that the increased water allocation was part of an attempted deal to get votes for the health care reform bill.

AP: “Storms mean California farmers, cities will get more water. In a March 16 article, the Associated Press reported that a “series of drenching storms have replenished many of California's reservoirs, freeing up more water for parched farms and cities throughout the state, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced Tuesday.” Like the March 17 Journal article, the AP article contained no suggestion that the increased water allocation had anything to do with the health care vote.

WSJ ignored statements by both representatives denying allegations of a deal

Cardoza: “Not satisfied with the water allocation” and “allegation that he has somehow traded a vote on health care reform for more water is absolutely false.” Cardoza released a statement making clear that he did not approve of the water allocation because it was “not enough,” and stating he has not taken a position on health care reform. From Cardoza's news release:

Congressman Cardoza has been working on the water crisis for as long as there has been a water crisis.

The allegation that he has somehow traded a vote on health care reform for more water is absolutely false and nothing more than an election-year smear tactic.

As he has said, Congressman Cardoza is awaiting the release of the final language of the health care bill and will make a decision after he reads it. He is on record as stating that the water allocation announced earlier this month is not enough for our Valley farmers.

Given that he is not satisfied with the water allocation and he has not yet taken a position on the health care reform bill, this accusation has no basis in facts and in fact makes absolutely no sense at all!

Costa: Allegations of a deal are “laughable, and certainly false.” When asked in an interview with Fresno radio station KMJ if he would vote yes on health care even if it was the only way to secure water for his district, Rep. Costa said, “No, I think the suggestion that I made some sort of deal with the White House is laughable, and certainly completely false. You know, Ray that I have been working on water issues for the people of our valley for 30 years.”