SACRAMENTO - Assemblywoman Anna Caballero today joined with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and other members of the California Legislature in a special legislative sessions welcoming Mexican President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa.

“It was a great honor to have a world leader like President Calderón speak to us today,” said Caballero.  “He reminded us of the common history California shares with Mexico, and our ongoing economic and cultural ties.” 

According to the 2000 census, 8.4 million California residents are of Mexican descent.  The relationship between Mexico and California generates over $159 billion a year for California.  Approximately 177,000 California jobs are related to our commercial relationship with Mexico, including 17 percent of all export-supported California jobs.

“President Calderón also reminded us of our shared history of helping one another during tough times,” said Caballero.  “For example, he reminded us that the bracero program, which brought Mexican workers to pick crops in U.S. fields, was established during World War II, when so many of our own workers were involved in the war effort.”

She continued:  “I was also pleased to hear President Calderón speak directly to the importance of strengthening the strong relationship between California and Mexico.  He didn’t mince words; he called for us to work together on solving the challenges of drugs and immigration.”

Stating that “we do not encourage our people to emigrate,” President Calderón said it was important that California and Mexico work together to make migration legal, safe and organized.  Describing Mexico’s ongoing efforts to invest in its own people, he said, “We have a shared vision where Mexicans will no longer have to leave Mexico to prosper.”

“We have every reason to work with Mexico on many fronts,” said Caballero.  “Our prosperity as a state depends on our working together to strengthen our economic ties, and work on shared concerns.

“I agree with President Calderón that ‘the choice is ours, and the time is ours.’”