Some lawmakers called the bond to overhaul the state's water system filled with pork projects and unaffordable.
Others said delaying the measure until 2014 will improve its chances of success.
Many of the bond's critics, like Republican Assembly member Bill Berryhill of Stockton, wanted voters to weigh in this year in hopes it would fail.
BERRYHILL: "The author of the bond has suggested that we should run this bond as is, instead we play games with the ballot, instead we play games moving and shifting ballot designations around."
Much of the support for delaying the issue came from lawmakers in the central and southern part of the state who need a stable water supply. Democratic Assembly member Jose Solario represents Anaheim.
SOLARIO:"I think we need to act now to get it off this ballot so that it has some hope in two years."
Money from the bond would go to cleaning up contaminated groundwater, increasing conservation efforts, improving sewage systems, and researching construction of at least two dams.