“Water needs to be our top priority this year. We are looking at potentially the driest winter in 500 years. Reservoirs are drying up, farmers are losing their crops, and it’s just getting worse. Our economy is reliant on an adequate and healthy water supply. We need to work with Governor Brown to find long-term solutions to ensure proper allocation and usage of water throughout the state.”
“The Governor’s message of fiscal prudence would be inspiring, if not for his persistence of High Speed Rail and the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, (i.e. Delta tunnels). It is irresponsible to continue wasting taxpayer dollars on projects like High Speed Rail that have no viable business plan and no connection to real needs in the San Joaquin Valley.
The Governor should instead prioritize more immediate issues that have state-wide relevance, such as water storage. The most responsible and cost-effective solution to the state’s water crisis is to ensure we have the means to capture and reserve water in wet years to prepare for dry years. Our economy, agriculture and northern and southern communities cannot thrive without a reliable water plan now and in the future.”
Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles)
“The Governor gave a very clear discussion about where we are as a state, the amazing transformation that’s happened over the last few years, moving from a place of fiscal instability and $60-billion structural debt to a place where we actually have a multi-billion dollar reserve. But the Governor reinforced the importance for thoughtful movement forward. The need for us to pay down long term debt and the need for us to build a sustainable rainy day fund that we’d put before the voter. I’m very happy to hear this…this notion that my colleagues and I in the Assembly offered up last year. The Governor’s embraced it and included it in his budget proposal, included it in his discussions today and I think that argues well for the future of the state where we can move from the boom and bust to ongoing stability.”
Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento)
"The Governor’s speech was rightly optimistic about California’s future, while prudently considering the challenges we still face. The encouraging increase in jobs, budget surplus, affordable healthcare for all, education reforms, and positive outcomes of public safety realignment are something to celebrate. California is back."
Sentator Lois Wolk (D-Davis)
“I applaud the Governor’s message that California must remain on a path of fiscal discipline, and share his desire to continue to pay down our state debt and build our state surplus. I also share the Governor’s concern regarding the drought and the importance of taking immediate steps as well as investing in long-term strategies to better manage future droughts, which may be more frequent as a result of climate change. There are a number of noncontroversial actions and ready-to-go projects we can implement now, including wastewater recycling, groundwater storage, regional and local water supply development; delta ecosystem restoration and stronger levees to improve water delivery. Of course, the simplest and most immediate part of the solution is for all Californians to improve our own water conservation practices, as well as making the investments in the most efficient technologies for both urban and agricultural users.”
Listen to the full audio of Gov. Jerry Brown's speech here:
May 30, 2018Fair Political Practices Commission chairperson Jodi Remke announced Tuesday that she will step down on Friday. It follows months of acrimony with other commissioners.
February 22, 2018His resignation followed an outside investigation, which found that Mendoza likely engaged in "flirtatious or sexually suggestive" behavior with six different women, including former staffers and fellows. The allegations date back to 2007.
February 20, 2018A summary of the Senate’s outside investigation comes after the chamber’s Rules Committee met in closed session to discuss Mendoza’s fate for the second weekday in a row.
January 18, 2018New legislative efforts supporting the “Me Too” anti-harassment movement could change the reporting process for victims filing complaints.
October 26, 2017Women in California politics, protesting sexual harassment and abuse at the Capitol, distrust the response from legislative leaders.
