Late Thursday, Senator Dianne Feinstein announced that negotiations with the House on drought legislation have come to an end.  However, House advocates claim they will continue to work on a bill in hopes of advancing a compromise by the end of the year.  "Although we have made progress, it has become clear that we will be unable to present an agreed-upon proposal before Congress adjourns this year," Feinstein said.  California’s other senator, Barbara Boxer (the out-going chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee), remained neutral during the negotiations, and stated that she was glad Feinstein was "taking the time to get more feedback."  

Led by Rep. Devin Nunes, southern California congressmen want to continue working on a bill, while northern California members are relieved that the process seems at an end for the year.  "We are pleased Sen. Feinstein will not be pursuing passage of the water legislation secretly negotiated by her and House Republicans," Reps. Jared Huffman, George Miller, Mike Thompson, Doris Matsui, Jerry McNerney, John Garamendi, and Ami Bera said in a statement.  "We will continue to demand next year that any water legislation responding to California's severe drought be balanced and take into consideration the array of stakeholders in California."