Publisher’s note: Assemblyman Ted Gaines voted Wednesday against the water bill. These comments were issued after that vote.

By Ted Gaines

While this plan addresses California’s longtime need for additional water storage and much-needed infrastructure, it does nothing to help our state by creating more unaccountable bureaucracies that don’t answer to those they serve. The plan could take water rights out of the hands of Northern Californians at a time when we should be eliminating boards and commissions and bloated bureaucracies.

We shouldn’t be asking taxpayers to fund more of the government’s pork projects during a recession, when California should be reducing the amount of money it spends. California faces a massive $20 billion deficit next year and this plan does nothing but add significantly to the state’s deepening financial hole.

Ted Gaines, R-Roseville, represents Lake Tahoe in the state Assembly.