New environmental bond, ignored housing bond complicate November ballot

During the Capitol’s heated infrastructure-bond negotiations earlier this
spring, water storage and parks became the major sticking points that kept
the bond package off the June ballot. Republicans wanted provisions for more
surface storage, including two new dams. Democrats balked at that proposal
and instead wanted millions to refurbish the state’s parks, forests and
coastline.

Ultimately, the sides agreed to disagree. The final $37.2 billion bond
package passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
included no money for either parks or water storage. But Democrats had an
ace up their sleeve: A group of environmentalists gathering signatures to
place a fifth natural-resources bond on the November ballot.

“Republicans were opposed to a wide range of natural-resources programs in
the original bond,” says Steve Maviglio, deputy chief of staff to Assembly
Speaker Fabian N