U.S. Representative Jeff DenhamU.S. Representative Jeff Denham

Government Wasting Millions on Empty Properties

admin — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:45:17 +0000

Rep. Jeff Denham, (R-Calif.), breaks down the money being spent to upkeep unused or underused government buildings.

10th District Mayors from Both Parties Endorse Rep. Jeff Denham

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:46:45 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, February 8, 2012

TURLOCK, CA — Local City Mayors, both Republican and Democrat, from throughout the 10th congressional district have endorsed U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham for reelection in the 10th District.

The Denham for Congress campaign announced today endorsements from Mayor Chris Vierra of Ceres, Mayor Danny Fox of Escalon, Mayor Willie Weatherford of Manteca, Mayor Jim Ridenour of Modesto, Mayor Ed Katzen of Newman, Mayor John Lazer of Turlock and Mayor Charlie Goecken of Waterford.

“I work closely with our locally elected Mayors and it is very gratifying to have their support,” said Denham. “Government at all levels needs to do a better job of eliminating waste and delivering needed services in a cost effective manner. The mayors of the 10th district are committed to that goal and so am I,” stated Denham.

Rep Denham, who just concluded his first year in Congress, has already made a mark as a leader who can get things done. Yesterday, the House passed his landmark legislation to eliminate waste and dispose of unneeded or underutilized properties owned by the federal government.

Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) is a valley farmer, small businessman and veteran. The 10th Congressional District includes all of Stanislaus County and the southern portion of San Joaquin County.

Denham Discuss CPRA On FOX Business

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:30:16 +0000

Denham’s bill, the CPRA, passed the House of Representatives Tuesday

Denham’s civilian property realignment bill passes House 259-164

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:39:17 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Jeff Denham’s bill, the Civilian Property Realignment Act (CPRA), H.R. 1734, passed the House of Representatives today by a vote of 259-164. The bipartisan bill implements common-sense policies to help eliminate government waste and save billions of taxpayer dollars, and is now headed for a vote in the Senate, the congressman’s office said in a news release. CPRA will literally shrink the size of government and help ensure savings by selling or redeveloping high value properties, consolidating federal space, maximizing the utilization rates of space, and streamlining the disposal of unneeded assets, according to the release.

“In the face of a $15 trillion debt, it’s time we get serious about eliminating waste and increasing efficiency in our government. My bill, the CPRA, will shrink the federal real property footprint and save billions of taxpayer dollars by selling what we don’t need and better utilizing what we keep,” Denham, chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, said in the release.

Read the rest of this story at the Merced Sun-Star

House Votes to Create Process to Dispose Excess Federal Property

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:38:14 +0000

(Bloomberg) — The House voted to create a commission to direct disposal or redevelopment of excess federal property that the General Services Administration estimated costs more than $1 billion a year to maintain.

The bill, H.R. 1734, would adopt a process for civilian property modeled after the Defense Department’s base closure and realignment commission process, or BRAC. The House today passed the legislation by a vote of 259-164.

“The federal government has a horrible track record of selling things that aren’t being used,” Representative Jeff Denham, a California Republican who sponsored the bill, said on the floor today. The bill provides opportunities to get rid of properties that have been “sitting for decades,” he said.

Read the rest of this story at Business Week

Federal property disposal bill OK’d by House

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:37:52 +0000

Unneeded federal government property could be disposed of much as old military bases were under a bill approved Tuesday by the House of Representatives on a vote of 259-164.

The proposal, by Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Modesto, now goes to the Senate for consideration.

It provides a method of selling or redeveloping high value properties, consolidating federal space, maximizing the utilization rates of space, and streamlining the disposal of unneeded assets.

“My bill … will shrink the federal real property footprint and save billions of taxpayer dollars by selling what we don’t need and better utilizing what we keep,” says Mr. Jeff Denham.

Read the rest of the story at the Central Valley Business Times

Rep. Denham discusses High Speed Rail

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:45:50 +0000

Jerry Brown’s budget eliminates 3,000 state jobs, axes agencies

admin — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:26:03 +0000

Gov. Jerry Brown’s new budget plan would eliminate a few thousand state jobs and consolidate or ax nearly 50 state organizations, according to documents released this afternoon.

Brown’s first draft of the budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year that begins July 1 envisions reducing the state workforce by some 3,000 positions, mostly from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The cuts fill a small part of the $9.2 billion budget hole projected through June 2013…

State budget could delay Fresno veterans home

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:29:29 +0000

The state budget crisis could push the opening of Fresno’s new veterans home to 2014.

The latest delay of up to a year was signaled by Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday when he announced a 2012-13 budget that eliminates operating money for the $158 million home in southwest Fresno.

Builders plan to have the home finished this spring. State officials had expected the home to be furnished and staffed in time for opening late this year.

But in July, state lawmakers wrestling with red ink chopped about $7 million needed to staff and run the home at the southeast corner of Marks and California avenues. That pushed the opening back to early 2013.

Now Brown wants to take more money earmarked for staffing and operation to help balance the state budget. If the Legislature agrees with the newest cut, the home might not open until early 2014.

Local veterans advocates have worked for more than a decade to get a veterans home in the central San Joaquin Valley. Charlie Waters, a longtime supporter of the Fresno home, said he spent much of Thursday afternoon lobbying officials at the California Department of Veteran Affairs…

Brown Rejects California Rail Bond Vote as U.S. Probe Pledged

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:24:22 +0000

…U.S. Representative Jeff Denham, a Republican from California’s San Joaquin Valley, said yesterday he plans hearings on the rail program.

The U.S. House transportation committee should issue a subpoena if the Federal Railroad Administration doesn’t turn over records of its communications with California legislative analysts, he said in a phone interview.

Denham said Jan. 4 that agency Administrator Joseph Szabo lied when he testified in a Dec. 15 congressional hearing that there was “not one conversation” between his agency and analysts preparing a report about the project that came out last May.

“At this point I don’t feel like we’re getting honest answers and I think it’s time for Congress to use its subpoena power,” Denham said in a phone interview…

Read more at Bloomberg (Subscription Required)