Governor Promises School Funds and More Help to Cities and Counties

Governor Jerry Brown says California has rebuilt its budget, and now has to maintain a responsible spending plan. The financial blueprint came during an inauguration address in Sacramento after being sworn into office. This will be Brown’s fourth term.

“He’s a historic figure now matter how you cut it. California is the 11th largest government in the world, and he’s heading it up,” said journalist, and political analyst Jerry Roberts who said the state has a lot to be happy about these days compared to the economic slide that took place about eight years ago.

Brown annually gives a State of the State address, and with the inauguration, he used this event for that speech.

Schools and and local governments will see the benefits from the upcoming budget after suffering major funding losses during the recession years.

“He’s not only paying back the money that was borrowed during the Schwarzenegger years, he’s adding money,” said Roberts.

Brown had forward looking environmental ideas in the 1970’s when he was Governor, and often criticized. He was committed to energy changes then and is staying the course now, with ideas that will help with solar installation, transportation upgrades, and systems to insulate buildings. Brown is very serious about a response to the impacts of global warming and other aspects of climate change.

“He’s talking now about reducing gasoline use in California by 50 percent in the next 15 years, which is a man to the moon kind of goal,” said Roberts.

Brown pointed out that water, education, prison over crowding, and transportation have been issues the state has grappled with for years, and there’s no quick solution, but he reminded the legislators about the state’s pioneering spirit and says it can lead the way today as well.

A compete copy of the Governor’s speech can be found at:http://gov.ca.gov/home.php