Gov. Schwarzenegger issued the following statement following this morning’s votes in the Legislature:
"Today is an important day for all of California. For the first time in a generation, we are making a real investment in our state’s future.
"First, let me thank the legislative leaders for all of their efforts to make the Strategic Growth Plan a reality. In January, I proposed the Strategic Growth Plan during my State of the State address. Everybody said it couldn’t be done. Everybody said it was impossible to bring both parties together for such a historic undertaking.
"But we did it. Both Democrats and Republicans came together and worked hard to make our state a better place. The Strategic Growth Plan will build new schools and fix old ones, strengthen our levees to help prevent a Katrina-style disaster and reduce traffic congestion so Californians can spend more time with their families.
"The Strategic Growth Plan is a landmark accomplishment that will yield benefits for generations to come. I think it’s always important to invest in what you believe in, and I believe in California, and I have faith in California. This is the greatest state in the greatest country in the world, so I say we should accept nothing less than a plan for our future that matches the highest aspiration of our people. It’s time for action. So I say, let’s build it.
"I want California to once again be the Golden State it once was. We must rebuild our state to make that a reality. With tonight’s vote, we have made significant progress toward that goal."