Governor Looks at the Big Picture in State of the State Address; Chastises Naysayers

In a speech that is being described as quintessential Jerry Brown, the governor gave his State of the State address on Wednesday morning. The governor struck a balance in highlighting both the good and the bad before California in a message that managed to be simultaneously lofty and detail-specific. Perhaps the key takeaway is that the governor implored legislators to tackle the state’s most pressing issues head-on. Complex tasks undoubtedly lay before the legislature, and one could be forgiven for doubting the capacity of Sacramento to handle such large-scale issues like education reform, high-speed rail, and pensions. The speech concentrated on big-picture ideas, which pivots away from the budget-centric focus of his first year. To understand the thesis or overarching theme of the governor’s speech, it’s perhaps best to center on his final words, which were simply “We’re on the move and on the mend. Let’s get it done.”

The governor decided to start his speech by poking fun of Republicans, as key leaders accidentally released a pre-recorded review of Brown’s speech yesterday (of course without knowing any of its content). Brown joked that he wanted to check with Republicans on stock tips because they apparently possessed clairvoyance.

Brown noted that the state’s problems are now one-fourth of what they were last year as government has been shrunk and key functions have been transferred to locals. The governor also said that despite many reductions, without a tax ballot last year, the state still has unfinished business. The governor stated, “I’m determined to press ahead with cuts and my tax initiative.” He also called it fair, temporary, and half of what people were paying in 2010 (and from the perspective of local governments, Brown noted that the tax will provide funding for realignment). Commenting on spending, Brown noted, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions, and digging a deep hole to do good is a bad idea.”

A good deal of Brown’s speech also chastised naysayers who predict the state’s imminent doom or who doubt the feasibility of projects like high-speed rail. The governor posited California is still the land of dreams and stated, “Rumors of its demise are greatly exaggerated,” which was met with great applause. As an example of the big-picture ideas that Brown outlined, the governor said 20120 presents opportunities to create jobs, reduce pollution, launch high speed rail, improve schools, reform pensions, and ensure realignment is working. The Administration wants one-third of electricity to be renewable by 2020 and Brown believes that the Golden State is ideally positioned to reap the economic benefits of green energy.

He also urged approval of high-speed rail, calling it a wise investment as the state’s population grows. The governor gave a spirited defense of the project and targeted critics throughout history who have talked down expansive projects like the Panama Canal and BART in the Bay. The legislature has to act this year to appropriate the project’s bond money.

Moving on to pensions, the governor urged legislators to examine his 12-point pension proposal and to get something done that is substantive. He stated, “I’m committed to reform because I think it’s a real problem […] Benefits, contributions, and age of retirement all have to balance and they don’t today.”

The governor also noted that when it comes to realignment, the state is only at the initial stages and more work needs to be done. He did applaud the work of local government officials for setting in motion the reduction of recidivism in the state.

Now the governor will set off to visit various locations in Southern California to stump for his tax initiative and rally the troops around its passage.