Gov. Brown delivers his State of the State message this morning and it likely will be an update look at the state's fiscal and political landscape, plus a peek at what's to come.
From the LAT's Anthony York: "After persuading voters to erase much of California's budget deficit with billions of dollars in new taxes, Brown is free to shift his focus from patching holes in the government's finances to a longer-term vision."
"He is expected to expand on his plans for shaking up public universities, shoring up water systems and boosting the state's international trade.The governor may also renew his call for changes in the landmark California Environmental Quality Act, which business interests say inhibits growth with onerous requirements."
"And he may reiterate his warning to fellow Democrats that the state's improved finances are not an invitation to spend freely."
Upbeat, maybe, but the governor will have to keep his eye on those restive fellow Democrats in both houses.
From Steve Harmon in the San Jose Mercury: "The irony is that the governor's own party's power surge could be as much of a headache for Brown as were the Republicans, who thwarted him on tax hike measures over the last two years."
"With super-majorities in the Senate and Assembly for the first time since the 1880s, Democrats can override any Brown veto in what could turn into a test of wills between two branches of government controlled by the same party."
"Brown has cautioned Democrats to avoid the political perils of overreaching by asking for more spending -- especially on the heels of securing more than $6 billion in new annual revenues when voters approved Proposition 30 tax hikes on the wealthy and on purchases. Democratic leaders have echoed some of Brown's caution, but it may not be easy to hold back rank-and-file legislators who in recent years have reluctantly agreed to billions of dollars in cuts to the poor, elderly and disabled."
California's venerable environmental protection law, CEQA, is frequently under fire but this year the demand for changes are increasing, from the governor on down.
From Capitol Weekly's John Howard: "But CEQA, long under fire from its traditional foes, is now taking hits from lawmakers, the Democratic allies of environmentalists and others who say – with some evidence – that the law can add years to the approvals needed for major projects to get under way. They argue that the law needs to be modernized."
“I’ve never seen a CEQA exemption I didn’t like,” Brown said last year in a comment that has rippled through the environmental and business communities. Brown, who also has said that changing CEQA was “the Lord’s work,” is likely to refer to environmental legislation in his State of the State address on Thursday."
“It (CEQA) is overwhelmingly abused for non-environmental purposes,” said Carl Guardino, the president and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, a coalition representing some 375 businesses. The group favors changes to CEQA."
When it comes to public retirees' health care, L.A. puts its money where its mouth is, and it does it by putting money aside -- a relative rarity in government.
From Calpensions' Ed Mendel: "Los Angeles has the best-funded retiree health care among the nation’s big cities, a new study found, and it’s also paying a big price for a policy praised by many but practiced by only a few."
"The city’s rare attempt to set aside money now to pay for retiree health care promised in the future accounts for nearly a quarter of the soaring retirement costs former Mayor Richard Riordan warns are driving the city toward bankruptcy."
"Most cities, as well as the state of California, just pay the annual health care bill for their retired workers. Little or no money is set aside to invest and help pay for health care promised current workers when they retire, lowering the total cost in the long run."
The memories of the Newtown, Conn., school shootings still vivid, school district police in Fontana have purchased semi-automatic military rifles.
From Jim Steinberg in the San Bernardino Sun: "Fontana Unified School District police have bought 14 military-style rifles to protect students and faculty in the event of a shooter on campus."
"But the $14,000 purchase of the semi-automatic guns has infuriated some school board members, who say that arming school police officers with rifles represents a huge departure in policy."
"The weapons are stored in locked compartments strategically located throughout the district, said Billy Green, chief of the Fontana school district's police."