California Progress Report

Full Day of Special Session Hearings This Thursday on California Water Issues

October 2, 2007

By Frank D. Russo

We have just received word that the California Assembly will hold hearings on water bonds and other water related legislation Thursday afternoon--the first for a newly formed Assembly committee in the special session of the legislature.

The Senate has previously announced hearings for Thursday morning. Both of these hearings will be informational--in other words there will be no vote on bills that have been introduced in the special session. But it is expected they will be packed with witnesses on the many different approaches and facets of the water problem the state faces. No witness names have been listed so far for either hearing.

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez announced that the newly constituted Special Committee on Water. The committeewill be chaired by Assemblymember Lois Wolk (D-Davis), the author of bills on flood control and safety that were part of a package sent to the Governor shortly before the end of the regular session. Wolk will undoubtedly receive input from the Assembly Working Group on Water, chaired by Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz). Laird and the members of the working group will also serve on the new committee. Assemblymember Bill Maze (R-Visalia) will serve as Vice-Chair of the Committee.

“In a very short period of time John Laird and the members of the working group have positioned the Assembly to play an effective, responsible role in addressing the water issues to be considered in special session,” Nunez said. “The new Special Committee on Water, chaired by Assemblymember Lois Wolk and including all the members of the working group along with newly-appointed Republican members, will continue that leadership.”

In addition to Wolk, Laird and Maze, the committee will consist of Assemblymembers Juan Arambula (D-Fresno), Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park), Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar), Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), Rick Keene (R-Chico), Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank) Doug LaMalfa (R-Redding) and Mary Salas (D-Chula Vista).

The Assembly hearing will be 1:30 p.m. on Thursday in Room 4202 of the Capitol.

The California State Senate will begin its hearings Thursday in the water special session when the Natural Resources & Water Committee meets.