|
Arnold's State of the State Address...
| quote: | 'The future does not wait'
Governor's address lays out big visions, calls for state improvements
John Wildermuth, Chronicle Political Writer
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
(01-09) 17:38 PST -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this evening called on legislators of both parties to work together on an ambitious plan to build more classrooms, construct more prisons and jump-start construction of new highways and other state improvements.
Delivering his State of the State address in the Assembly chambers to the assembled Legislature, Schwarzenegger promised to find the middle ground that will allow both Republicans and Democrats to reach agreement on the state's future needs.
"Usually when a governor gives his State of the State address, he talks about his vision,'' Schwarzenegger said. "This year I want to do something different, I want to talk about 'our' vision, because I think we all want the same thing for Californians.''
Earlier today, he announced his plan for an executive order that will cut the carbon content of gasoline sold in California beginning in 2010, which is expected to limit the use of petroleum-based fuels in the state.
"Our cars have been running on dirty fuel for too long,'' he said. "Our country has been dependent on foreign oil for too long.''
While Schwarzenegger was his usual ebullient, optimistic self, especially when he talked about how "the 21st century can be the Golden Century for our Golden State,'' he didn't downplay the political roadblocks facing his vision for the state's future.
"We still have very difficult choices to make on the budget and I am eager to work with you on these choices,'' the governor said. "I am not asking you not to be a Republican or not to be a Democrat or to give up your principles. I am asking you to be Californians and to work out a solution that is the best possible answer to the challenges we face.''
The 23-minute speech, which was interrupted more than a dozen times by applause, was long on vision and short on nitty-gritty details, many of which will show up Wednesday, when Schwarzenegger presents his new state budget. But he made it clear that while he realized that nothing, not even the signature health-care proposal he unveiled Monday, will make it through the Legislature unscathed, the state still has to build on the bipartisan progress that was made last year.
What last year's agreements on the minimum wage, prescription drug costs and greenhouse gases showed Californians, Schwarzenegger said, was "that we are not waiting for politics. We are not waiting for our problems to get worse. We are not waiting for the federal government. We are not waiting, period. Because the future does not wait.''
The governor listed a few specifics in his speech. He called for construction of 15,000 new classrooms and the renovation of 40,000 more. He also pledged to work with the Legislature to push schools to make more information available on-line, including such things as classroom spending, art and music programs and dropout and graduation rates.
"If you can get information about a car on-line, why can't we get information about our local schools on-line?'' he asked.
His new budget fully funds education and recognizes that the state's future depends on the quality of the graduates it turns out, the governor said.
"That small child with the sticky hands starting his first day of kindergarten is the foundation of California's economic power and leadership,'' he added.
Schwarzenegger again renewed his controversial call for new construction to end prison overcrowding, which he said has made the prison system "a powder keg'' that could be a threat to the public if the federal government forces the state to release prisoners to relieve overcrowding.
And while the governor glossed over his plan to build new dams and water storage in the state, earlier in the day he threw the first punch in what is likely to be a fight with environmentalists and their allies in the Legislature by announcing his plan to put a $4.5 billion bond for water projects on the 2008 ballot.
That water plan, which is a priority with Republican leaders, is one of the carrots Schwarzenegger provided the leaders of both parties. He promised to work closely with the GOP on water issues and plans for debt reduction, and with the Democrats on both alternative energy and Senate President pro Tem Don Perata's plan for an expanded ferry system for San Francisco Bay.
He also called on the Legislature to move quickly to approve the road construction and other infrastructure work called for in the $40 billion bond package passed in November.
"We, the elected leaders, must authorize the cranes, the bulldozers and the cement trucks to begin their work without delay,'' Schwarzenegger said.
The state of the state is strong, the governor said, with the highest revenues in history and the lowest unemployment rate in 30 years. But more remains to be done.
"I know that what I have proposed is an ambitious agenda ... but we must be ambitious to get California to the future,'' Schwarzenegger said. "It is hard heavy work ... but is this not what government should be doing.''
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/artic...eed=rss.bayarea |
sounds like a lot of taxes, but at least it's going towards the right kind of stuff (for the most part)
___________________
  
|
