Assemblymembers Wolk and Laird Respond to Assembly Republicans’ Pledge to Derail Water Negotiations without a Guarantee on New Dam Construction

SACRAMENTO—Assemblymember Lois Wolk (D-Davis), chair of the Special Committee on Water, and Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), leader of the Assembly Democratic Caucus Water Working Group, today responded to Assembly Republicans’ pledge to “draw a line in the sand” if Democrats refuse to preemptively guarantee that a final legislative package includes new dam construction.

“I will be chairing hearings that will begin the process of moving forward responsibly on these issues,” Wolk said. “I don’t think issuing ultimatums or counter-ultimatums is the productive approach for California. The Delta should not be kicked around like a political football. There is a serious crisis and it needs a serious response. We need to all sit at the same table and talk. Tomorrow's hearing is a good start.”

“There are those who believe strongly that dams must be part of the solution, and as the working group leader I have been asked my position on them,” Laird said. “To me, it’s a question of analyzing whether they should be built, and who pays. Dams have been built in California with no state money in recent years -- with users paying the freight. The most the state has contributed for a dam has been 3% of the cost of Oroville Dam. The Governor has proposed three dams at a cost of over $5 billion -- a record level of public financing because he is proposing the state come up with 50% of the cost for each dam.”

The Special Committee on Water will meet Thursday, October 3, beginning at 1:30 p.m. in Room 4202 of the State Capitol in Sacramento. The hearing is expected to last approximately three hours.