A Word From Supervisor Bill Horn:

Report from Washington, D.C.

During my 13 years as your Fifth District Supervisor, I've learned that having positive working relationships with people in Washington, D.C. is invaluable in carrying out the task of serving my constituents here on the home front.

Continuing contacts with elected representatives, their staff members, and key decision-makers in the capital bureaucracy is essential to making sure our County receives its fair share of federal dollars and support for programs that are vital to our way of life.

On Sunday, April 28, 2008, my staff land policy advisor, Dustin Steiner and I traveled to Washington, D.C. for three days of meetings with people ranging from a U.S. Senator, to members of our San Diego Congressional delegation, and top officials in government agencies. Also with us was Dan Silver, Executive Director of the Endangered Habitats League. Based on the issues we were presenting, especially the one dealing with North County's Rancho Guejito; I felt it was productive to have a respected member of the environmental community and outside of government at our side.

We organized our presentations in four main areas, beginning with the focal point of the trip:

*Preservation of Rancho Guejito. This is a 21,000 acre open area northeast of Escondido; the best and last preserved Spanish land grant in California.

*The huge financial impact of illegal immigration on our County budget. A study we commissioned showed the County pays at least $101 million a year for services to illegal aliens including $49 million for incarcerating these people. The federal government gives us back $2 million to handle the costs. The direct cost to hospitals is almost $155 million.

*Anti-gang measures. Thousands of gang members prey upon innocent citizens in North County.

*Brush-clearing in fire-prone areas. The success of our brush-clearing programs was seen during the October 2007 Wildfires. Much more is needed.

From these topics would flow other discussions, along with our suggestions for solving problems, some of which people in Washington told me they were hearing for the first time. That kind of reaction doesn't come through letters, e-mails, and phone calls. I find that traveling 2700 miles for face-to-face meetings accomplishes more things in a shorter time and is well worth the investment in taxpayer funds. Such was the case on this trip.

What follows is a look at our itinerary, some of the people we met, topics considered, the response, and what we think was gained for the future. We were on the go from morning until late at night, so I hope you don't mind if I don't list a visit to grab a bite or the not-so-mundane challenge of getting from here to Washington, D.C. and then around the capital. Thanks for letting me share this with you.