SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Legislation designed to provide long-term solutions to California's water challenges is scheduled to go before both houses of the Legislature, although the prospects for passage remain uncertain.
Republican and Democratic lawmakers have introduced competing bills that have similar outlines but differ on key points.
The discussions center on creating an independent mechanism to govern the state's water supply, spending $9.4 billion for storage and conservation, and establishing environmental safeguards for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
Legislative staff members have been trying to reconcile the partisan differences before lawmakers begin debating the bills Monday afternoon.
Lawmakers are considering the complex water fixes in a special session, the third one called this fall by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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