Statement by Assemblymember Ted Lieu in Response to the Governor’s State of the State Address

“Both in his Inaugural Address and tonight, Governor Schwarzenegger has stressed the theme of bipartisanship and cooperation.  That’s very heartening to me.  The voters of my district sent me here to get things done – not to play politics.  I hope that the Governor’s plans won’t be derailed by hyperpartisan politics advanced by the extreme right.

I especially look forward to working with the Governor on his plan to promote alternative fuels and reduce Carbon emissions.  Anything we can do to reduce dependence on foreign oil will clean our air, improve national security, and benefit consumers. This builds on the work that we did last year on AB 32, California’s Landmark Global Warming Law, which I was proud to co-author.  The Governor is again showing leadership on our most pressing environmental issue, climate change.

On all of the Governor’s plans, however, the Devil will be in the details.  Just because I and my fellow Democrats want to work in a cooperative manner, that does not mean we are going to give on our core beliefs.  We are going to be relentless in advocating for full funding of education, and to see that our Budget is not balanced on the backs of children and the poor.”