STATE OF THE STATE
California’s impact in the world
is large
By Meryl Fulinara
“We grabbed California
before it slipped,” exclaimed Governor Schwarzenegger in
his State of the State Address, Wednesday, January 5. During his
speech he addressed some accomplishments of the past year, and
his plans for 2005.
Last year the lingering stench of a 22 billion dollar debt lingered
over our great state of California. Despite our large economy,
we were challenged with a possible financial breakdown. “The
greatest rescuers of the state [economy] are not [politicians],
but the people of California,” stated Governor Schwarzenegger.
It was the people of California who saved the state from its ruin;
with the maintenance of the past comes the hope of never having
to save it again. “Last year we stopped the bleeding. This
year we must heal the patient,” explained the Governor.
In its road to recovery Governor Schwarzenegger hopes to do two
things: solve the budget’s constant structural deficit by
reforming the system of spending expenditures and restoring the
assurance of the people toward the government.
According to Governor Schwarzenegger, “We don’t have
a revenue problem. We have a spending problem.” Even if
California’s revenue increases, various budget formulas
make our spending increase as well. As in anything, you cannot
find a solution without fixing the problem. Likewise, you cannot
reconstruct the budget crisis without rebuilding the budget system.
The Governor made it clear that, “Unless we go to the root
of the problem and reform the system, the budget will continue
to be one big fight, year after year after year. I don’t
mind a fight, but if there is to be one, let it be over new, important
things that move us beyond the past.”
California spends half of its state budget toward education, yet
all the while, thirty percent of high school students drop out,
and hundreds of schools are failing. Governor Schwarzenegger describes
the California school system as an “institutional disaster.”
Our Governor wants to reward excellent teachers so more teachers
in California would strive for excellence. His theory is, “The
more we [the California school system] tolerate ineffective teachers,
the more our teachers will be ineffective.” The Governor
suggests, “Teacher pay be tied to merit, not tenure. And
I propose that teacher employment be tied to performance, not
just showing up. If there were a decision between special interest
and the interest of a child, which one would you choose?”
“We need a 21st Century government to match a 21st century
world…good management is crucial, but we need even bigger
solutions,” stated the Governor. He also said, “The
current system is rigged to benefit the interests of those in
office…not the interests of those who put them there. And
we must reform it.” Over the past year California has become
more efficient in networking their purchasing system and selling
the product that is California. Governor Schwarzenegger proudly
remarked, “California was once the national leader, a pioneer…we
can make it so again.”
The plan to abate unnecessary board meetings and commissions is
reasoned by this statement of Governor Schwarzenegger, “No
one paid by the state should make $100,000 a year for only meeting
twice a month.” Special interest groups are funded with
government money, and for that they will oppose the reforms mentioned
by Governor Schwarzenegger. The Governor passionately stated,
“Any time you try to remove one dollar from the budget,
there are five special interests tugging on the other end. Anytime
you try to make something more efficient, there are half-dozen
special interests trying to prevent it. The result is that nothing
changes in Sacramento. This is in the grip of special interests.
If we here in this chamber don’t work together to reform
the government, the people will rise up and reform it themselves.
And I will join them. And I will fight with them.”
Since California is a car-centered state Governor Schwarzenegger
plans to build roads. He also plans to build affordable housing;
especially since owning a house is a part of our ideal “American
Dream.” Governor Schwarzenegger declared, “I want
a California where people spend less time sitting on the freeway
and more time in homes they own.”
The Governor ended with this, “This is a job of those who
serve the people. I welcome and seek your ideas, but do not bring
me small ideas; bring me big ideas to match our future. Bring
me reforms to equal our problems. Join me in restoring the trust
of the people. Join me in introducing a bold, new era of reform
in California.”
