Gov. Gavin Newsom’s attempt to fast track the construction of the Delta Conveyance Project had a setback Tuesday. The governor’s strategy of inserting a bundle of policy changes into the state budget was rejected by a budget subcommittee, essentially sending a message to Newsom that the Legislature would rather discuss his suggestions using the normal legislative process. The Delta Conveyance Project is a proposal for a 45-mile gravity-fed canal that would carry excess water from the Sacramento River to join the preexisting aqueduct system that provides water to millions of users in Central and Southern California. Three members of the Senate Budget Subcommittee 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy voted to reject the fast-tracking proposal. … Newsom spokesperson Tara Gallegos said the governor received letters of support from 28 bipartisan legislators, as well as from water agency and community leaders, including the State Building and Construction Trades Council and the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians in San Jacinto in Riverside County.

Other Delta tunnel news:

• CalMatters: Opinion: Newsom wanted to fast-track the Delta tunnel project. The Legislature slowed the flow
• Restore the Delta: News release: Temporary victory – California senate rejects Delta tunnel budget power grab
• Sacramento News & Review: Opinion: Stockton-based conservation group calls for audit of billions in public spending by DWR​
• California Policy Center: Blog: The economics of the Delta tunnel
• Ag Net West: Opinion: California’s water crisis — time to turn policy into action