SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — 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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