A package of eight flood protection bills has been on hold in the Senate since the Democratic President Pro Tem Don Perata shelved it last week – arguing administration amendments weakened the measures.  But after meeting with the bill’s authors this week, he’s changed his tune:

“We don’t have time to negotiate.  We’re just going to send them to the Governor and if he doesn’t want to put a signature on them, he can veto them.”

Exactly what they’ll send isn’t quite clear, but it could address topics like flood mapping, and how much liability local government should bear for flood protection.  Democratic Assemblywoman Lois Wolk has authored several of the bills:

“It is unthinkable that having seen the devastation in New Orleans. that we would not here in California enact strong good policy to protect people.

”Perata came under fire last week when a campaign committee he controls received a major donation from a builders’ trade group that opposes some of the measures.