Democrats unveil water bond proposal late in session

Already facing little time to add items to the Nov. 4 ballot, Assembly Democrats unveiled a water bond proposal Friday morning that they believe can get needed legislative support.

Members of an Assembly working group on water said the proposal for a $9.8 billion water bond could be vetted and approved quickly enough to still make the Nov. 4 ballot, but said they also want to give it full consideration and examination before voters see it.

"There is some hope that the deadline to make the ballot would be beyond Sunday," said Assemblyman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), referring to a date some lawmakers believe is the last possible one for adding items before ballots must begin printing. "The point is we are working as fast as we possibly can."

Huffman and other members of the working group - all Democrats - said it's also possible the bond could appear on as-yet-unscheduled special election ballot.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, mindful of Bowen's deadline, said Thursday that he might have to schedule a special election to get voter approval for budget reforms that would accompany a 2008-09 state budget, still unfinished.

Hearings on the water bond proposal and related legislation will begin Monday, said Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis).

Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, in introducing the working group, said the speed at which the bond moves through the state legislature will be determined by its merits, not on the rush to get it onto a ballot.

"I believe it's critical to get consensus on this issue, and if that takes longer so be it," said Bass (D-Los Angeles). She said the bond's approval was in no way tied to the state budget, now 53 days overdue.

The two could be tied in one sense, however. Assembly member Nicole Parra (D-Hanford) said earlier this month that she wouldn't vote for a state budget without a water bond put before voters. She abstained from a budget proposal vote on Sunday and as a result lost her capitol office.

Parra briefly attended Friday's press conference on the water bond but did not comment before leaving.

Huffman and other working group members said they believed the proposed water bond would garner support from Republicans and the governor. The bond requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers to be placed on a ballot.

Huffman said the new proposal was largely similar to one Schwarzenegger and U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) released last month, but with additional money for immediate relief in drought-stricken communities.

He noted that it also included $3 billion for water storage - an area of concern for environmental groups who fear the damage caused by new dams - but noted that money for storage would be subject to annual legislative appropriation.

No money would be allotted toward the peripheral canal, a controversial proposal to ship water around the Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta to points south. Such an idea was rejected by voters in 1982.