Calif. voters have final say over $11B water bond

By: SAMANTHA YOUNG
Associated Press
11/04/09 3:30 PM PST

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders say their $11.1 billion water bond is an essential investment for California's future, but it may be a hard time sell to voters.

California already is saddled with debt, and the bond measure that will appear on the November 2010 ballot is filled with special-interest earmarks. They were added in the late hours through backroom dealmaking.

The bond ballooned by $1.7 billion over two days while legislative leaders sought to win the votes they needed to pass the measure.

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, a Democrat from Sacramento, defended the size of the bond. He told reporters Wednesday that California has a lot of water needs.

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