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About this blog: I am a native of Alameda County, grew up in Pleasanton and currently live in the house I grew up in that is more than 100 years old. I spent 39 years in the daily newspaper business and wrote a column for more than 25 years in add...  (More)

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Our paradoxical Governor

Uploaded: Jan 6, 2015
You have to hand it to Gov. Jerry Brown.
Monday morning, he was sworn in for a record fourth term (the term limits law was passed after he left office after his first two terms and the state court ruled he was eligible for another run at California's top job).
His inaugural address served to both set his agenda for the next four years and give the constitutionally required update to the Legislature on the state of affairs in the state. He continued with his paradoxical approach. The governor has persuaded voters to both raise sales taxes temporarily as well as jack up the income tax on the wealthiest Californians (critical factors to bringing the budget into balance) as well as pass a $7.5 billion water bond and a constitutional amendment to set aside revenue in good years for the inevitable recessions.
He said,
"California has made bold commitments to sustain our environment, help the neediest and build for our future. We are leaders in renewable energy and efficiency; we have extended health care to millions; we are transforming our educational and criminal justice systems; we are building the nation's only high-speed rail system; we raised the minimum wage; we are confronting the drought and longer-term water issues; and last, but not least, we have enacted real protections for our hardworking immigrants, including the issuance of long-awaited driver's licenses."
A few of my translations:
? Californians continue to pay the highest electrical rates in the country and more for gasoline than any other state in the country. There's a reason that there is so little manufacturing in this state. If you are a knowledge worker in the tech fields, you are a happy camper. If you are a blue collar worker with skills in manufacturing, good luck.
? While he prides himself on the rainy day fund, the governor will preside over groundbreaking today for a $68 billion (today's estimate) high-speed rail with a first segment that connects Fresno to Bakersfield. Yeah. There is no identified revenue source for two-thirds of the money and that assumes it stays within budget (does that $6 billion Bay Bridge come to mind?)
? The state has given the first step to de facto amnesty to "hardworking immigrants" otherwise known as undocumented workers or illegal immigrants. The rule of law?
? The governor's new funding program for education is a big improvement over the antiquated prior system. It recognizes that some districts in lower income areas have challenges way beyond those faced by most of the districts in the Tri-Valley and need additional resources to help students succeed.
The governor shifted back to the pragmatic when he raised the huge issues of burgeoning unfunded liabilities for public pension systems. The Legislature took steps to deal with both the teachers and the public employees systems, but long term fixes are decades off at the current pace. Although, school districts, which will receive 39 percent more money than they did four years ago, face a doubling in their pension contribution over the next few years.
Local Journalism.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by Cholo, a resident of California Reflections,
on Jan 6, 2015 at 6:47 pm

I don't like Governor Brown nor have I ever appreciated his leadership.
However, I must say that I'm waaaaaaay tickled:
. He's extending a HELPING HAND TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS! VIVA!
. Primary health care will be available to low income families! VIVA!
. I'm over the Bay Bridge comics...don't care about it anymore...OVER!
. I agree that we must OBEY THE LAW and I MEAN IT!
. It's a darn good idea to fund all the schools fairly, not just a few.
. I'm watching closely what's gonna happen to pensions of hard working productive American workers.

i rest my case


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Carriage Gardens,
on Jan 6, 2015 at 7:25 pm

Tim,

You forgot this: Web Link

I know lots of Americans are unhappy but I'm not one of them. Fair is fail.


Posted by Peter Kluget, a resident of Danville,
on Jan 7, 2015 at 9:28 am

A few of my translations of Tim's comments:

1. We don't care how many people get emphysema! So what if California has worse air pollution problems than the rest of the country due to our greater population and atmospheric conditions, which can be alleviated by requiring a slightly different formulation for gas sold here? Gas should be cheap! Cheap, cheap cheap! Anything which raises its cost a few cents a gallon is bad! Bad, bad, bad! And the fact that business is booming and hiring is up in California is irrelevant. We're losing the race to the bottom! That's what matters. we should be able to compete with Bangladesh for low-cost production of goods. Or better yet - Texas!

2. Building infrastructure for the future is a sucker's game. Yeah, BART and the bay bridges worked out OK for me, but they were paid for by suckers in the past. Everything works okay for Tim today, and Tim will be dead when the rail system is complete, so screw it! Tim's not paying one red cent for anything that doesn't pay off for Tim!

3. The "rule of law" is what I say it is! "Illegal immigrants" - yeah! So what if the Supreme Court says: "As a general rule, it is not a crime for a removable alien to remain present in the United States." (Arizona v. U.S.) Tim says they are all subhumans - untouchables, a lower category of people: "illegals." Screw 'em! And while you're at it, screw everyone in the state by making it impossible for hundreds of thousands of state resident to get licenses and insurance for their cars, even though they've violated no state laws.


Posted by No Joke, a resident of Gatewood,
on Jan 7, 2015 at 10:10 am

Brown is a joke but the joke is on the voters of this state with zero viable candidates to run against him.
We get what we deserve - a squeeze out of the middle class, raising costs, bad schools and no chance for reform as long as the public employees are the only organized voice heard in Sacto.
No future for our children unless they are tech geniuses -
Job growth in the lowest paying service categories' is not job grow for a good future and strong middle class (let alone for the tax collector).
Keeping the doors open to Mexico for more people that will require more social services and continue to be a drain on the public schools in SoCal is a terrible way to right the sinking ship.
What do I know, plenty, I own a business with employees that could never find another job like it and make the kind of money and benefits we pay them. Honest pay for honest work.
The state that has the highest percentage of welfare cases in the country cannot continue to rob the rich, squeeze the middle and pay the poor......


Posted by digitalFlack, a resident of Stoneridge,
on Jan 9, 2015 at 11:13 am

digitalFlack is a registered user.


Building and operating a high speed rail will create thousands of jobs and opportunities in California. Good construction and skills jobs.

Weh California spent the money to buy a few billion dollars of bridge components from China, they didn't take into account the fact that money spent in California circulates in California, an stays in pensions in California. Money spent in China, generously helps subsidize their infrastructure, economy and pensions.

When we're done building the railroad, let's start burying all the above ground electric and telephone wires.... improve the scenery (as in UK and Germany) and make jobs and better utility distributions systems. Infrastructure is an important part of the economy.



Posted by digitalFlack, a resident of Stoneridge,
on Jan 9, 2015 at 11:13 am

digitalFlack is a registered user.


Building and operating a high speed rail will create thousands of jobs and opportunities in California. Good construction and skills jobs.

Weh California spent the money to buy a few billion dollars of bridge components from China, they didn't take into account the fact that money spent in California circulates in California, an stays in pensions in California. Money spent in China, generously helps subsidize their infrastructure, economy and pensions.

When we're done building the railroad, let's start burying all the above ground electric and telephone wires.... improve the scenery (as in UK and Germany) and make jobs and better utility distributions systems. Infrastructure is an important part of the economy.



Posted by San Ramon Observer, a resident of San Ramon,
on Jan 9, 2015 at 7:03 pm

San Ramon Observer is a registered user.

I agree with Digital Flack. The high speed rail project will provide thousands of jobs and fits my "money floats up" economic philosophy. When working people have disposable income, they spend it and it floats up to make everyone richer.

The high speed rail will also be a boon to future residents, not only the half-dozen who actually want to travel between Fresno and Bakersfield. Governor Brown and I will be dead or in an old age home while futuristic travelers commute between San Francisco and San Diego.

Roz


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