Dear Republican Leader

I believe Steve Frank (past-President, CRA) was right on target when he wrote that Governor Schwarzenegger's speech "... was an A+ speech ..." Steve also wrote that the governor "... had passion, energy, structure, focus, it was delivered with humility in parts and sincerity throughout. He gave the audience confidence that he knew the subject and had a full grasp of the issues being raised. And the construction of the speech--masterful. Coming back several times with the line, 'I say build it' was forceful and positive."

As I talked to those who were present in the State Capitol Rotunda after the Governor's speech on Thursday night, we were all in agreement that the Governor understood the problems facing California and he had a plan to solve them.

Just as former Governor's Warren and Knight saw the challenges of growth and made capital spending plans for our future and Governor Pat Brown carried these plans out, Governor Schwarzenegger recognizes that today we face new challenges of growth. The population of Sacramento County is expected to grow as much as 50 percent over the next two decades and the state by 30 percent.

Now I haven't had a chance to talk to other members of the Sacramento County Transportation and Clean Air Collaborative to get their reaction to the Governor's speech, but I liked the Governor's plan for reducing congestion on our roads and freeways up to 18 percent in 2016 by building 1,200 miles of new highway and adding 600 miles of mass transit. I like the idea of having truck-only lanes as part of the state transportation
system as outlined in the Governors speech.

The Governor's $107 billion transportation investment will be funded by:

1. $47 billion from federal funds and existing funding sources, such as Proposition 42, which mandates retail fuel sales tax to go directly to transportation.
 
2. $48 billion in new funding by leveraging existing funds.

3. $12 billion in new bond funds to attract increased federal, local and private investment.

Voters will have to approve this in a $6 billion authorization in 2006 and again in 2008; the Los Angeles Times reports that "Wall Street debt rating firms on Friday generally were untroubled by the program unveiled in the Governor's speech and applauded the concept of a formal plan that would set priorities for capital spending."

Governor Schwarzenegger's plan describes public-private partnerships to complete projects such as high-occupancy toll lanes, regular toll lanes, truck lanes with a revenue stream created to re-pay these capital
investments.

The Governor's proposal also includes the goals of cleaning up the air, building K-12 and higher education schools, and water and flood control.

I find myself giving the Governor an A+ not only for his speech but an A+ for his ideas for the future of California.

I urge the citizens of California to support Governor Schwarzenegger's new plans for California.
 

Carl Burton, President
California Congress of Republicans
916-485-5741 home

PS.  Don’t forget our CCR statewide Endorsement Convention this coming January 27-29 in Riverside California.  For more information visit http://www.ccrgop.org