California political leaders continue to deliberate over a potential water infrastructure package, but they were not ready to bring it to a vote this week as had been expected.
Such a package to upgrade the state’s aging water delivery infrastructure will include at least $10 billion in bond borrowing, in the form of either or both general obligation bonds and revenue bonds paid for by water users.
Such an agreement would have to bring together widely diverging interests, such as those of Northern and Southern California, as well as rural and urban regions. Senate President pro tempore Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, is trying to shepherd the agreement.
“Senator Steinberg had productive conversations on water today and will continue to work towards an agreement on a package this week,” spokeswoman Alicia Trost said in an e-mail Tuesday announcing the cancellation of a hearing that had been planned Wednesday. “Once an agreement is reached language will be drafted and put into print and made public. The Senate will then schedule a hearing to take place early next week to review the agreement with a possible floor session and vote later that week.”
