SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernardino) issued the following statement in response to Governor Brown’s State of the State speech:
“I applaud Governor Brown’s leadership and his commitment to California’s comeback. As he stated, Californians have a lot to be proud of; including one million new jobs since 2010, a budgetary surplus and an increased minimum wage. However, as we work to continue to build on our state’s progress, I agree with the governor’s statement that “we can’t go back to business as usual.” I stand with Governor Brown in his commitment to paying down state debt, creating an effective rainy day fund and addressing our state’s unfunded pension liabilities.
We must also recognize the uniqueness of California’s regions and understand that growth in one area of the state does not necessarily benefit other regions. The Inland Empire, for example, continues to struggle, despite the economic success of California’s coastal regions. The Inland Empire lacks economic development, has counties with high rates of unemployment and continues to deal with court closures that delay and deny justice to our residents. It is imperative that we keep these differences in mind as we make policy and spending decisions.
I am pleased that Governor Brown has maintained his commitment to public safety and reducing our state’s high recidivism rates. San Bernardino County is one of the top five counties in the state that receives the most parolees. As a proud member of the Assembly Select Committee on Justice Reinvestment, I look forward to addressing California’s criminal justice and prison challenges.
We must also ensure that veterans remain a priority in California. Although the governor did not mention veterans in his speech, his proposed budget provides funding for tax incentive programs and workforce development programs that target our veteran population. I look forward to supporting these funding priorities and other measures that will preserve our state’s commitment to those who have served our country.
While California still has a lot of work to do, we are on the right track and I am committed to working with the governor and my colleagues in the Legislature to help our state move forward.”
Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown represents the 47th Assembly District, which includes Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Rialto, San Bernardino, and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy.
Website of Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown: http://www.asmdc.org/members/a47/
