0221BA WATER 2A+2B
Adler/AR
PM 0221 + AM 0222
Time :49
The big California water bill working its way through the U.S. House of Representatives has grabbed the attention of lawmakers at the State Capitol. The measure would send more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to Central and Southern California.
Democratic State Senator Lois Wolk (like “yolk”) represents the Delta. She calls the bill a “fundamental rewrite” of water law that breaks longstanding agreements.
WATER2A / Wolk: “The hard work of water policy is not what this is about. This is about grandstanding. This is about throwing something out there that will never be successful.” (0:08)
But Republican Assemblyman David Valadao (val-uh-DAY-oh), who’s from the Central Valley, says farmers need the water for their crops that feed the nation – and themselves.
WATER2B / Valadao: “The water’s been stopped from coming down to our district. And with our unemployment levels and what’s going on in our area, we’ve got to do something.” (0:07)
The bill will likely pass the Republican-controlled House. It faces a much tougher road in the Senate, where it’s opposed by California’s two Democratic senators.
