SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California’s historic drought is putting increasing pressure on Gov. Jerry Brown to tackle longstanding problems in the state’s water storage and delivery systems.
For the Democratic governor, the drought brings both opportunity and risk as he faces re-election this year.
Brown is pitching a contentious $25 billion proposal to drill two 35-mile-long, freeway-size water tunnels beneath the Northern California delta.
He also faces mounting pressure from the state Legislature on an $11 billion water bond that lawmakers want to scale back in hopes of winning favor with voters in November.
Few things are more politically divisive in California than water, but those affected by the drought are hoping the crisis provides much-needed urgency to yield a rare political compromise.
Brown says if anybody can get it done, he can.
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