California Lawmakers Respond to Gov. Newsom’s State of the State Address

Members of the California Senate and Assembly react to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s first State of the State address Tuesday Feb. 12, 2019:

Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Los Angeles): “His optimism is a stark contrast between what we have here in the Golden State and the negativity we see in Washington, D.C.”

Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego): “The Governor spoke some hard truths. He set audacious goals, and he’s assembling a formidable team to achieve them. We will need new ways of looking at old problems, and unprecedented collaboration to meet the challenges ahead. I’m eager to get to work.”

Senator Mike Morrell (R-Rancho Cucamonga): “The governor’s remarks were filled with platitudes and promises that all amount to a more expansive and intrusive government at the expense of taxpayers. On one hand, he takes something off the table, then puts it right back on. The governor says he disagrees with high-speed rail, but still proposes to spend billions of dollars more on the failed project.”

Assemblyman Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay): “Governor Newsom inherited a high-speed rail project that is a mess. He showed he is ready to step up and take the reins as a leader, recognizing there needs to be wholesale changes. I appreciate his realistic and common-sense approach to this project.”

Senator Jeff Stone (R-Riverside County): “The Governor certainly laid out a lot of broad and ambitious goals.  Like his campaign, his first major policy speech promised something to everybody. It seemed the Governor was more interested in picking a public fight with President Trump than addressing the needs of working California citizens.  We need to remember that California receives a billion dollars of federal funds every single day of the year.”

Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland): “In his first State of the State address, Governor Newsom showed us why California truly is the keeper of our nation’s future. Governor Newsom has it right: the fear-mongering and scapegoating emanating from the White House won’t solve our problems. California and the United States can only overcome our shared challenges if we stand up for truth and work hard—together.”

Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama) who represents Wheatland, CA and the Paradise region devastated by the Camp Fire: “… singling out Wheatland, a town of 3,497 people where the median home value is $306,000, is disingenuous at best. Wheatland in Yuba County is not the epicenter for the pent-up demand for affordable housing. San Francisco’s median home value is $1,374,800. Multiple generations of families are living together to afford skyrocketing prices in the Bay Area. Wheatland, unlike Marin County, did not use its powerful political allies in Sacramento to exempt itself from the housing element law that allowed them to plan for fewer low-income housing units lasting through 2028.”

Assemblyman Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield): “I am encouraged by the Governor’s focus on the Central Valley and his commitment to investing in clean water, workforce training, housing, and ensuring the Valley receives its fair share of resources.  Our communities have the potential to be the economic engine to push California’s economy forward.  I look forward to working with the Governor to bring accountability, transparency, and efficiency to Government.”

Senator Brian Jones (R-Santee): “On the Border – The Governor rightly claimed that illegal border crossings are at a historic low. But instead of simply saying thank you to our federal government, he ratchets up the political rhetoric making a show of recalling our California National Guard and claiming that the federal administration is engaged in ‘theater’ for a ‘manufactured crisis.’

Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Kern County): “Many of the biggest issues facing our state, including traffic congestion, housing affordability, and worsening public safety, can be addressed with reforms to state laws that currently prevent meaningful progress in these important areas. The Governor’s call for much-needed and overdue reforms that will streamline statewide housing development—something that Republicans have urged for many years in Sacramento – is important.  We also need these commonsense reforms for our water infrastructure projects and transportation as well. As long as Sacramento refuses to make these commonsense changes, California residents will continue to pay the price every single day.”

Assemblyman Marc Berman (D-Palo Alto): “I look forward to working with Governor Newsom and my colleagues in the Legislature to break down barriers to building more housing, ensure every child goes to a school where they gain the skills they need to succeed, increase access to clean drinking water throughout California, including in the coastal communities of the 24th District, and create an economic system where people who work full time make enough money to support their families.”

Senator Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno): “California’s Environmental Quality Act has been one of the greatest impediment to affordable housing in California.  I join Governor Newsom’s desire to see meaningful CEQA reform to help address California’s housing crisis.”

Senate Majority Leader Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys): “Governor Newsom has made it clear he’s ready to hit the ground running. I absolutely agree that our problems don’t start and end with PG&E, so we must put our heads together on a comprehensive framework for California’s energy future. And when it comes to homelessness, the state must provide leadership and vision; our cities and counties cannot do it alone.”

Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez (R-Lake Elsinore): “While I appreciate the Governor’s enthusiasm, we need to get back to basics.  California is number one in poverty in the country.  We don’t need a new committee or commission to show that California has become too expensive for too many.  We need to undo the policies that are the cause of it.”

Assemblyman Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno): “I am thrilled that his budget recognizes the need to expand coverage for young adults regardless of immigration status and makes health care more affordable for the middle class.”

Senator Cathleen Galgiani (D-Campbell): “But, let’s be clear once and for all: High Speed Rail is coming, it’s being built, it’s part of our landscape now, it’s not going anywhere, it’s part of California’s Central Valley and now we can, with great confidence, begin planning around this very important transportation project that will do so much good for all of California.  I’m very excited about this news.  This is great news not only for the Central Valley, but for our environment, for commuters, for businesses and for further investment in our state.”

Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino): “During these polarized political times, I appreciate that the Governor continues to stand up for California’s values of inclusion and uplifting others.  We will never back down from a just and moral fight, but we will also do all we can to help provide the resources that our residents and local communities need.”

Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles): “This new administration is talking about people, talking about the ‘graying population’ in California. He talked about children, about hard working families who don’t earn enough to put food on the table and pay for rent. And, so he really talked about what California looks like.”