Watch the Live Webcast of the Governor's 2006 State of the State Address here Thursday, January 5 at 5:00pm.
Live Stream will be made available shortly before the webcast begins.
Posted on 01/05/2006 8:52:31 AM PST by NormsRevenge
When I was teaching, the week we returned from our holiday vacations (substitute "interim") was a good time to reaffirm the goals and ground rules we established when the term began, and to look ahead at what might be accomplished before Spring Fever sets in (substitute "election").
In that spirit, if you'll spit out your gum and stop talking to your neighbor, here are some thoughts on where the California State Senate stands this first week of 2006.
As we've shown over the past couple months, the Senate is committed to getting government back to basics. People are tired of manufactured issues and want us to focus on what can actually affect and improve their lives.
Following a frank and lengthy discussion, Senate Democrats have focused our efforts on four key areas: transportation, education, health care and energy. The challenges range from making sure there are enough qualified teachers in our classrooms to preparing our public health system for epidemics and emergencies, to jump-starting stalled transportation projects so folks won't be stuck in traffic so much. The details of our back to basics proposals would swamp the space Capitol Weekly has graciously provided me here, but you can check them out yourself at our website www.sen.ca.gov (I never have stopped enjoying handing out homework).
One "basic" area I must get into, in a week where flood and the threat of flood swept through California, is that we have a narrow opportunity to get behind a responsible, priorities-based infrastructure bond. February 24 will be the one-year anniversary of my introducing such a bond, SB 1024. So we're already a year behind where we could have been. April 18 is another key infrastructure anniversary--100 years since the San Francisco earthquake and fire. Let's hope by then we'll have some evidence to show that we've learned something in 100 years about the wisdom of being prepared.
Back to basics won't mean business as usual. We will be making sure when it comes to tough problems, that innovation and efficiency help drive the solutions. When it comes to taxpayer dollars, we will be making sure that they are spent appropriately and effectively. Administrators whose agencies receive and direct state funds will have ample opportunity this year before Senate policy committees and budget subcommittees to show us whether or not that's the case.
Before the bell rings (substitute "word limit") I want to emphasize a couple points about the nature of the Senate. Much has been written, commentated and blogged recently about how--or if--the legislature and governor can work together this year. From my point of view, I'm enjoying a cooperative and cordial relationship with the governor and his new team. I want our strong partnership with our colleagues in the Assembly to continue. I wouldn't expect any deal for the sake of having a deal, though--any agreement must be the best we can do for the public. Conversely, we won't block a deal that's truly good for the public just for the sake of politics.
So as we work to get California back to basics in 2006, the Senate will continue to strive to be a place where the rough and tumble of politics can meet common sense and common courtesy to build toward the common good. Thus endeth the lesson.
Yes, pistol-packin' Perata. The Dems can only focus on taxing and spending -- there is nothing else in their universe, certainly not spending reduction or tax reduction...(I know, not a profound observation!)
OK, Perata, try closing the entire K-12 public education system for a year. You'll have all the money you need to fix the infrastructure and time to plan a way to restart public education in the fall of 2007 at 50% of the cost. The kids can just skip ahead a year - it isn't going to cost them any real educational value the way the system is now structured. ;)
Watch the Live Webcast of the Governor's 2006 State of the State Address here Thursday, January 5 at 5:00pm.
Live Stream will be made available shortly before the webcast begins.
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