The Senator and the Governor work together to ensure California comes up with a comprehensive water policy that includes dams.
Feinstein, governor push for water bond
Dams still a deal breaker, but legislative leaders from both parties agree to meet again in two weeks.
By E.J. Schultz - eschultz@fresnobee.com
Published 12:00 am PST Friday, February 22, 2008
Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger met privately with state lawmakers Thursday in an effort to jump-start stalled negotiations on a state water bond.
There were no major breakthroughs and significant hurdles remain. But legislative leaders from both parties agreed to meet again in two weeks, the governor said.
Feinstein, who was invited to the Capitol by the governor, said, "I found it very productive and very constructive and I think the key is … to keep these people together."
She and the governor pressed for a legislative deal to get a measure on the November ballot, rather than relying on an outside ballot initiative.
Legislative water solutions have proved elusive due to the partisan divide over dams. Talks collapsed last year and lawmakers from both parties had put the issue aside this year as they wrestle with the state budget crisis.
But Feinstein said "the window of opportunity is on us now." If no deal is reached for this year's ballot, lawmakers would probably have to wait until 2012, she said.
That's because reaching a deal for the 2010 ballot might prove to be politically impossible because it is a gubernatorial election year, she said.
Feinstein has long pushed for state money for dams, parting ways with other leading Democrats who have strongly opposed using public money to pay for surface water storage. On Thursday, Feinstein called for a "comprehensive solution" that would include money for dams and groundwater storage, as well as for repairs to the deteriorating Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
