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5A Thursday, January 23, 2014 – Daily News Brown: Calif. comes back but challenged by drought SACRAMENTO (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday delivered dual messages in his annual address to the Legislature: California's resurgence is well underway but it's threatened by economic and environmental uncertainties. Chief among those uncertainties is that the severe drought gripping the nation's most populous state and already forcing water cutbacks among farms and cities, could eventually exact a financial toll on the state's improving finances. In the State of the State address, Brown said it was not clear what role heattrapping gases have played in creating three years of dry weather, but he said the excessively dry conditions should serve ''as a stark warning of things to come.'' ''This means more droughts and more extreme weather events, and, in California, more forest fires and less snow pack,'' he said, a week after declaring an official drought. ''We need everyone in every part of the state to conserve water,'' he told the state's 38 million residents. ''Water recycling, expanded storage and serious groundwater management must all be part of the mix. So too must be investments in safe drinking water, particularly in disadvantaged communities.'' Lawmakers are considering changing or delaying an $11.1 billion bond scheduled to go before voters in November. Brown also has proposed a $25 billion plan to build two 30mile underground tunnels to ship water from Northern California to Southern California. Brown, who has delivered more State of the State addresses than any other governor in California history, delivered a restrained speech that was largely without surprises. He touched on the state's financial turnaround after years of budget deficits, and noted his continued efforts to reduce the state's prison population and equalize public school funding. Brown noted that a million new jobs have been created since 2010 and that the state faces budget surpluses in the billions of dollars for the foreseeable future, thanks to a surging economy and tax increases approved by voters in 2012. Yet he also said California continues to face financial challenges that could imperil its future, including It would be his last term as governor after serving from 1975 to 1983 then returning to the office in 2011. Alluding to his tenure, he said, ''My message: There is no substitute for experience.'' He would face two official candidates, both Republicans: Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, R-Twin Peaks, a tea party favorite, and former U.S. Treasury official Neel Kashkari. Donnelly said Brown's speech sounded like a campaign rollout but was devoid of solutions for restoring the state's prosperity, repairing its infrastructure and cutting regulations. ''I was shocked by the complete lack of any cognizance of how most Californians feel,'' Donnelly said. Kashkari criticized Brown for failing to address poverty, low-performing schools and California's unemployment rate, which remains at 8.5 percent. ''Instead of doing the hard work of fixing these problems, Gov. Brown is AP photo Gov. Jerry Brown places a playing card back in his pocket after displaying it during his State of the State address before a joint session of the Legislature at the Capitol in Sacramento, Wednesday. The card Brown displayed during his 18-minute speech showed an image of his dog, Sutter, on one side and a graph of the state's huge recurring deficits on the other. $100 billion in pension liabilities for state workers, teachers and judges, tens of billions more for retiree health care and $65 billion to maintain roads and other public works. Brown, 75, only briefly mentioned the $68 billion high-speed rail project that is a priority of his but has lost much of its public support and is under scrutiny. His address Wednesday came less than two weeks after he delivered his state budget proposal for the fiscal year that starts in July, outlining a vision that embraces frugality even as tax revenue soars to a record level. The $106.8 billion general fund he proposed is nearly 9 percent more than spending in the current fiscal year. That includes $45.2 billion for K-12 schools, a year-over-year increase of nearly $4 billion. Brown's vision for how the education money is to be spent — laid out in last "Serving our Community for over 19 years" WELCOME BULL SHIPPERS Gold Exchange 19 Years of Merchandise HUGE Inventory Reduction 2 Bud's BBQ HAS THE BEST IN THE WEST 50%off All Jewelry Shop Early - Save BEANS 413 Walnut Street, Red Bluff 530 528-8000 (530) 528-0799 www.redbluffgoldexchange.com www.angelsamongusall.com 22825 Antelope Blvd. Red Bluff Mon. 10am-4pm • Tues.-Fri. 10am-5:30pm • Sat.10am-4pm 741 Main Street, Suite #2 Red Bluff, CA 96080 1-800-287-2187 (530) 527-2187 C & C PROPERTIES An Independently owned and operated Member of Coldwell Banker Residential Affiliates. 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''I think that is exactly what we need to spur the stakeholders and my colleagues in both houses to get a water bond that is supportable by the public, passed this year,'' Perez said. Brown provided a moment of levity during the nearly 18-minute speech when he held up a playing card with an image of his dog, Sutter, on one side, and a graph of the state's huge recurring deficits on the other. 0.22 AC 0.95 AC 1.1 AC 1.06 AC 1.58 AC 0.45 AC 0.163 AC 0.83 AC 0.21 AC 0.309 AC 2.87 AC 2.54 AC 0.332 AC 0.33 AC 9.3 AC 1.36 AC 0.71 AC 5.98 AC $99,950 $169,900 $189,000 $189,000 $189,900 $189,900 $209,000 $229,000 $249,000 $255,000 $289,500 $298,000 $299,800 $299,900 $325,000 $369,000 $399,000 $657,000 Prop Code 4759 Prop Code 4629 Prop Code 4149 Prop Code 4079 Prop Code 4129 Prop Code 4559 Prop Code 4039 Prop Code 4779 Prop Code 4869 Prop Code 30169 Prop Code 4929 Prop Code 4229 Prop Code 4069 Prop Code 4399 Prop Code 4119 Prop Code 4709 Prop Code 4309 Prop Code 4969 Let Our Knowledgeable And Professional Staff Assist You With All Your Real Estate Needs Today ! See All Tehama County Listings at www.redbluffcoldwellbanker.com TEHAMA COUNTY REAL ESTATE TEAM • OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK year's address— is starting to take effect. Last week, the state Board of Education approved sweeping new rules that direct school districts to funnel billions of dollars of new revenue toward schools that serve high numbers of students from low-income families, who are English-learners or are in foster care. The additional money is generated partly by temporary increases in sales and income taxes that Brown persuaded voters to approve in 2012. Many Republican lawmakers have embraced Brown's message of frugality while questioning whether his fellow Democrats will go along after years of cutbacks to their favorite programs. ''I remain skeptical that a majority of Democrats in the Legislature share this vision,'' said Assemblyman Donald Wagner, R-Irvine, in a statement, calling for reducing taxes and regulations to improve the state's business climate. The governor has not yet declared whether he will seek re-election, although he is widely expected to do so and has collected nearly $17 million for a campaign. RUNNINGS ROOFING Sheet Metal Roofing Residential Commercial • Composition • Shingle • Single Ply Membrane 530-366-3166 545 Adobe Rd. Red Bluff www.redbluffdodge.com "No Job Too Steep" " No Job Too Flat" Serving Tehama County No Money 530-527-5789 530-209-5367 CA. LIC#829089 Down! FREE ESTIMATES Owner is on site on every job Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara, holds a playing card given to her by Brown. The Over 25 years of experience STOVE JUNCTION The North State's premier supplier of stoves Now Carrying! Green Mountain Grills & Accessories Serving Butte, Glenn & Tehama Counties Tues-Sat 9am-5pm • Closed Sun & Mon 22825 Antelope Blvd., Red Bluff 530-528-2221 • Fax 530-528-2229 www.thestovejunction.com All makes and models. 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