Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) ended her filibuster of the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act last Friday, coming short of the 41 votes needed to block the $11 billion bill that would authorize water projects across the nation, according to the San Francisco Gate.
The sweeping legislation, which Boxer co-wrote, has sparked tensions between salmon-fishing conversation groups and urban water growers as reported by the Los Angeles Times. Boxer condemned late additions to the bill by longtime colleague Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) as a “sneak attack” and “midnight rider” that would devastate the nation’s salmon in order to help the San Joaquin Valley’s agribusiness.
Now that the bill has passed, what’s next for Southern Californians? Where exactly will our water go, and what are the environmental concerns against the Endangered Species Act?
Guests:
Doug Obegi, a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council's water program
Roger Patterson, assistant general manager for strategic water initiatives, Metropolitan Water District