Lawmakers miss own deadline for work on water bills
S.J. officials join chorus of critics of rapid action
Alex Breitler
Recordnet
09/09/2009
SACRAMENTO - State lawmakers missed a self-imposed deadline Tuesday to move forward with a series of comprehensive water bills centered on the Delta, while San Joaquin County officials joined a growing chorus condemning the hasty process.
A special legislative water committee had been expected to vote on a plan to change how California stores, manages and uses water. But legislative leaders canceled the vote late Tuesday, suggesting trouble for the ongoing negotiations.
"The time frame, what's left here makes it awful difficult to get it done, in my perspective," said Sen. Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto, the lead Republican on the committee. "We'd love to get it done by the end of this session, but it has to be right at the end of the day."
The legislation would, among other things, establish a new council to oversee the estuary.
The majority of that council would be appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose administration favors building a peripheral canal to help secure flows to two-thirds of California.
San Joaquin County supervisors approved a resolution Tuesday opposing the process.
"When things are rushed, they usually create a lot more problems than they initially try to solve. I don't expect this will be any different," Supervisor Steve Bestolarides said.
The resolution asserts the bills should be discussed and understood by both the Legislature and the public.
County staffers said board action carries more weight in Sacramento than a memo or an individual letter.
Tuesday's action marks the sixth order or resolution defining the board's positions on state water issues in the past two years, according to the county.
"That drives another stake in the ground," Public Works Director Tom Flinn said.
A diverse group of interests - including both environmental organizations and water districts - has signed onto a letter to the 14-member conference committee asking that the water bills not be forced through this week.
