He wants to pull a water bond issue scheduled for voter consideration off the November ballot, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has said.

The Los Angeles Times reported on Wednesday that the governor said the proposal as written has a slim chance of passing in light of California's present dire economic straits and he wants to focus his attention on the budget.

Schwarzenegger said, "After reviewing the agenda for this year, I believe our focus should be on the budget, solving the deficit, reforming out-of-control pension costs and fixing our broken budget system. It's critical that the water bond pass. ... I will work with the Legislature to postpone the bond to 2012 and avoid jeopardizing its passage."

It was opposing the measure, said the powerful California Teachers Union.

David Sanchez, president of the teachers union, said, "With an already outrageous budget deficit, California can't afford" the cost of the borrowing, taking even more money away from our students, our schools and other essential services."

Jim Metropulos, a lobbyist with Sierra Club California, suggested lawmakers abandon the package as written and start over.

He further said, "Even if it is delayed to a future ballot, it will continue to be a bad backroom deal, hatched in the dark of the night and loaded up with billions of dollars in pork projects to buy off votes." (With inputs from Agencies)