Yesterday we blogged here that the Senate was planning hearings and even a vote on major water legislation next week -- but we also noted the multiple issues standing in the way of a deal.

So it's no surprise that the Senate today said there won't be any sessions next week, lending more evidence that Democrats and Republicans are struggling to reach consensus. Instead, Senate staff says the upper house intends to hold a committee hearing on water. The Assembly isn't planning any floor sessions, either.

Senators were told in a memo to "be prepared to return to the Capitol" during the week of Oct. 26.

When they come back, Democrats could face lobbying from unions that aren't too happy that leaders are considering a new bond to pay for water projects, after having just slashed funding for schools and social services. The bond is a top priority for the GOP, which wants money for dams, including one near Fresno.

In a recent letter to Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg, the SEIU State Council -- which represents government workers -- says it opposes any water financing plan that takes money from the general fund because "some other program will have to be cut some more."

Democrats have tried to assuage such concerns by proposing a ceiling on the amount of bond funds that can be spent in the early years -- but it is not clear if those restraints would satisfy unions.

Read the SEIU letter here.