Jerry Brown in 2016 Governor's State of the State speeches


On Budget & Economy: Investment in infrastructure makes long term economic sense

A long-term obligation is our deteriorating infrastructure. From state office buildings here in Sacramento to levees and facilities in our parks, universities, prisons & state hospitals--serious deficiencies abound. In this year's budget, I am proposing that we use $2 billion of our temporary surplus on one-time investments to repair and replace aging structures. Neglecting what we have built over many years and letting it further deteriorate makes no sense and will just pile up costs in the long run.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to California legislature Jan 21, 2016

On Education: Increase funding for schools and target tough students

With respect to education, the strong economic recovery and the passage of Proposition 30 has allowed us to increase spending on public schools and community colleges from a low of $47.3 billion in 2011, to $71.6 billion this budget year. That is a 51 percent increase in overall spending, with significant sums allocated under the Local Control Formula to provide for the unique challenges that face low-income students, English learners and those in foster care.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to California legislature Jan 21, 2016

On Education: Reduce centralized control of local education

I am proud of how California has led the country in the way it is returning control to local school districts. For the last two decades, there has been a national movement to micromanage teachers from afar, through increasingly minute and prescriptive state and federal regulations. California successfully fought that movement and has now changed its overly intrusive, test-heavy state control to a true system of local accountability.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to California legislature Jan 21, 2016

On Environment: CA out front in addressing climate change

Besides the immediacy of the drought, there is the overarching threat of a warming climate. Incredibly--though last year was the hottest on record--there are still those who are in denial. The Paris climate agreement was a breakthrough and California was there leading the way. Over 100 states & provinces have now signed on to our Under 2 MOU. The goal is to bring per capita greenhouse gases down to two tons per person. This will take decades and vast innovation. But with SB 350, we're on our way.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to California legislature Jan 21, 2016

On Health Care: ACA wholeheartedly embraced in CA

We have wholeheartedly embraced the Affordable Care Act. We are now enrolling 13.5 million Californians in Medi-Cal and another 1.5 million in Covered California. While the benefits of these programs are enormous, so too are the costs--both now and into the future. In four years, total Medi-Cal costs have grown by $23 billion. As the state begins to pay for its share of the millions of new enrollees, the cost to the General Fund will also rise. In 2012, the General Fund paid $15 billion for Medi-Cal, but by 2019, that number is expected to be $25 billion, an increase of two-thirds.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to California legislature Jan 21, 2016

On Social Security: Moral obligation to fund pension obligations

Our retirement liabilities--for pensions and lifelong health benefits for state and university workers--total $220 billion. These liabilities are so massive that it is tempting to ignore them. We can't possibly pay them off in a year or two or even 10. And there is little satisfaction in the notion of chipping away at an obligation for three decades to pay for something that has already been promised. Yet, it is our moral obligation to do so--particularly before we make new commitments.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to California legislature Jan 21, 2016

On Tax Reform: California needs a larger Rainy Day Fund

The next recession, even if it were only of average intensity, would cut our revenues by $55 billion over three years. That is why it is imperative to build up the Rainy Day Fund--which was recently overwhelmingly approved by the voters--and invest our temporary surpluses in badly needed infrastructure or in other ways that will not lock in future spending. California has a very progressive but volatile income tax that provides 70 percent of General Fund revenues. If we are to minimize the zigzag of spend-cut-spend that this tax system inevitably produces, we must build a very large reserve.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to California legislature Jan 21, 2016

The above quotations are from 2016 Governor's State of the State speeches.
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Page last updated: Dec 09, 2018