Rewritten Water Bond to Include Less Money for
Storage
California Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg says lawmakers plan
to rewrite the $11 billion water bond for the November 2014 ballot
- and the new version will likely have less money for storage
projects such as dams.
"There will continue to be a chapter for storage," says
Steinberg. But "I don't think there will be nearly the same
amount of money in that chapter as there was in the original
bond. And I think there will be de-emphasis, frankly - or at
least, on the same surface storage projects."
Steinberg says the overall size of the bond will be
"significantly less" as well. In addition to storage, he says
it will focus on safe drinking water, conservation efforts and
restoring the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
His comments come as a new Public Policy Institute of
California poll shows nearly 70 percent of voters believe it's
important that a water bond be passed. But just over 40
percent support the measure at its current size.
Commission Leaves Elected Official Salaries Unchanged,
For Now
The chairman of the commission charged with setting the
salaries and benefits for California state officeholders says the
panel isn't likely to approve any pay raises this year.
The California Citizens Compensation Commission met Thursday
in Sacramento. It deferred a vote on pay levels until
mid-June, when state revenues are clearer.
Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg declined to say whether the
commission should raise elected officials' salaries. But he
did argue against any further cuts.
"We are not perfect by any means," he said. "But
legislators have taken - when you add up everything - you know, I
think over a 25 percent cut. And I think enough is
enough."
In fact, he commission has reduced the salaries of the
governor, lawmakers and other state elected officials by 22 percent
since their high five years ago.
Governor Jerry Brown currently earns $165,000 a year.
Legislative leaders earn $104,000. Rank-and-file lawmakers
earn $90,000.
