Governor wants $11 billion water bond removed from November ballot
Mike Taugher
San Jose Mercury News
06/29/2010
In a stunning reversal, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Tuesday he would attempt to pull an $11.1 billion water bond off the November ballot and instead ask voters to approve it two years from now.
The governor said the delay was needed to focus on the budget, but the economic climate and persistent criticism of the bond's cost was making the measure a tough sell.
To take the bond off requires approval of two-thirds of the Legislature.
"The water bond was going to be caught up in the budget negotiations this summer," said Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear. "The key thing is to protect the water bond."
The co-chairman of the coalition supporting the bond expressed support for the move.
