Hundreds gathered on the steps of the Capitol on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014, to ask Gov. Jerry Brown to declare a drought and show their support a new water bond for increased water storage. (Mike Simpson/KFBK)
We want water. That was the message from lawmakers -- and hundreds of farmers -- at the state Capitol today.
They rallied on the west steps to call for an official drought declaration from Governor Jerry Brown and a new water bond for increased storage.
"So that we can capture the rain during wet years, so we can use it in times like today," Democratic Assemblyman Henry Perea of Fresno said.
Perea was standing alongside Republican Senator Anthony Canella of Merced.
"If we can pass a bond for $11 billion to fund high speed rail, we should be able to pass a bond for $10 billion or $11 billion to build water infrastructure," Canella said.
A drought declaration would allow greater control over the allocation water and likely trigger federal assistance.