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Governor Signs Bill Moving Water Bond to 2012

Submitted by Lisa Lien-Mager on Tue, 08/10/2010 - 3:59pm
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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation Aug. 10 to move the $11.14 billion water bond to the November 2012 ballot, narrowly meeting the Secretary of State’s deadline for removing Proposition 18 from the printed voter guide that will be mailed out this fall.

The governor signed AB 1265 (Caballero and Jeffries) one day after it cleared the Assembly on a 54-22 vote – the bare minimum needed for a two-thirds vote. The Senate approved the measure on a 27-7 vote earlier that day.

Schwarzenegger also signed a companion measure, AB 1260 (Fuller), to adjust the terms for members appointed to the California Water Commission, the entity tasked with allocating funding for surface storage projects if the bond is approved by voters.

ACWA testified in support of both bills.

Assembly Member Anna Caballero (D-Salinas), ACWA, the California Latino Water Coalition and other water bond supporters assembled today for a Capitol press conference to acknowledge the efforts of the Legislature and governor.
 
"The public understands we have a water problem. We have to convince them to make the investment and that will take more time," Caballero said, adding that the recovery from the economic recession has been slower than anticipated and that is has affected consumer confidence on all levels, especially issues tied to state spending.             
 
The coalition reinforced that public education will be critical over the next two years to help voters understand that investment in a water bond is critical to the state's economic and environmental stability.           

The action to delay the bond came six weeks after the governor and legislative leaders announced their intent to move the bond, citing the state’s economic woes and the need to focus on budget issues this year.

The Assembly vote followed lengthy debate over whether to move the bond or repeal it and start over. Assembly Member Mary Salas (D-Chula Vista) noted the years of work that went into developing the bond and the comprehensive package enacted last fall.

“We will not have the opportunity to work on this important policy for many years if we don't hold firm and make sure that what we worked on has a chance to pass,” Salas said.

Opponents of the move, led by Assembly Member Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), suggested California would be better served by putting the measure before voters for an up-or-down vote this fall.

“If it can’t pass as structured, maybe we need to roll up our sleeves and work on a bond with more chance of success,” Huffman said, noting there are “some parts of the bond that are urgently needed.”

AB 1265 renames the bond measure the Safe, Clean and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2012 and provides for it to go before voters at the Nov. 6, 2012, statewide election instead of the Nov. 2, 2010, election. It also modifies provisions regarding joint powers authorities formed to finance surface storage projects.

ACWA President Paul Kelley said the delay does not diminish the importance of the legislative package or the need for investments in the state’s water infrastructure.

“We know the decision to move the bond to the November 2012 ballot was a difficult one, but we applaud legislative leaders for working together to guide this through the process and set a new date to place this important measure before the voters,” Kelley said.

“ACWA continues to support the package and will work toward securing a long-term financing plan through the water bond when it goes to voters in 2012.”