California's legislature has two busy workdays ahead of it before lawmakers start a month-long summer recess.

 

The agendas for today and tomorrow include billions of dollars for water projects and high-speed rail. Lawmakers are expected to vote to delay the $11 billion water bond from this November’s ballot to 2014. The bond would pay for a variety of projects, including storage and environmental improvements. The move will require a two-thirds vote, but that likely won’t be a challenge. The delay would be the second time lawmakers have pushed the bond back.

 

The real suspense revolves around high-speed rail. Governor Jerry Brown is searching for enough votes to approve $4.6 billion in voter-approved state bonds to start construction. The biggest challenge appears to be in the Senate, where some skeptical Democrats have raised questions about the project’s finances and ridership estimates.