Sen. Gaines responds to guv’s speech

SACRAMENTO – State Sen. Ted Gaines, R-Rocklin, gave the following reaction to Gov. Jerry Brown’s 2013 State of the State address, which he delivered to a joint session of the Legislature and the people of California Jan. 24.

“California’s future can be bright and full of promise if the government provides the foundation for its prosperity and is not a barrier to its success. Smarter regulations and a government that lives within its means – that is the path to a vibrant and prosperous California and I hope the governor and legislative Democrats follow that course.

“During his address, Gov. Brown focused on his ‘good news’ budget plan. While it’s a less painful budget than we’ve seen in the past, it is only balanced due to the $50 billion tax increase felt by every Californian across the state.

“At a time when we should be buckling down and tightening our belts, state spending will grow by $5 billion with new funding for state programs and major pay and benefit increases for state employees. Is that really the wisest use of our dollars? Classrooms will see additional funding but it’s not nearly the level it should be given the promises made during the Proposition 30 campaign.

“Education reform should be a priority. I agree with the governor that certain authority and decision-making should take place at the local school district level in order to best light fires in California’s young minds.

“With the legislative session ahead of us, I’m concerned that the governor and my Democrat colleagues will take the rosier budget outlook as license to charge ahead with increased deficit spending. It is critical that we reign spending in and remain in the ‘black’ so that California never falls back into the fiscal pit we’ve dug ourselves into in the past.

“I will do all I can to help guide our state down the path towards a better California. I will continue working tirelessly across the aisle to find bipartisan solutions for job-creation and regulatory reform, including reforming the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) that will help hard-working California families and businesses prosper.”

Gaines represents the 1st Senate District, which includes all or parts of Alpine, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Shasta, Sierra and Siskiyou counties.