Watch CBS News

Jerry Brown Tells Water Plan Critics: 'Shut Up, Because You Don't Know What The Hell You're Talking About'

SACRAMENTO (CBS/AP) -- Gov. Jerry Brown is taking a blunt approach with critics of his $15 million plan to build twin tunnels to send water around the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

Brown said Wednesday that until critics have studied the problem for a million hours, they should "shut up, because you don't know what the hell you're talking about."

The Democratic governor says that's how long state officials have spent on the controversial proposal to divert water from the Sacramento River.

The problem of conveying water north to south has confounded California leaders for 50 years. Brown said it requires complex solutions not everyone likes.

Tunnels critic Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla says the real experts are people who live and work in the Delta. She says they won't go away, and they won't shut up.

© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.