BUSINESS SECTION

By Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

NCM InfoWire

August 1, 2005

California is moving in the right direction again. The number of jobs is growing, unemployment is the lowest it has been since 2001 and our economy is doing well. And none of this would have happened if it were not for you, the people. You worked hard and you made California stronger. You expanded businesses and created more jobs and more revenue for our state. Now we must continue this success.

Education: Children are my No. 1 priority, and that is why this year, we are investing more in education than we ever have before, nearly half of our entire budget. However, 30 percent of our freshmen do not graduate from high school. We must do better than that for their sake. This year’s budget supports improvements in our schools in many ways. We will begin rewarding teachers who take difficult jobs where they are needed the most -- in our toughest schools. We will give children healthier meals at school, with more fruits and vegetables. We will spend nearly $70 million to help more students prepare to pass the High School Exit Exam. And we will invest nearly $350 million to help our lowest performing schools improve students’ academic performance.

No New Taxes: You work hard and you deserve to keep as much of your paycheck as you can. In the past, politicians overspent your tax dollars. Then, when the money ran out, they would cover their overspending by taking more of your money with another tax increase. I say that is wrong. We must make sure that government lives within its means, just as you do. We don’t have a revenue problem in this state. We have a spending problem. But until we reform the way our budget process works, we will continue to face the problem of politicians spending all your money and then asking for more.

Transportation: Right now, California has the worst traffic congestion and the worst road conditions in the United States. Too many Californians spend too much of their time stuck in traffic and driving on roads that are substandard. And in the next five to 10 years, our population will grow by several million. We must be ready for that growth. That is why we are investing in transportation and spending your tax dollars the way you intended. When California’s voters approved Proposition 42, they said yes to investing the taxes they pay at the gas pump in our roads. This year, we are making sure that your tax dollars help get you out of traffic and home to your families.

In July, working with Democrats and Republicans, we passed a budget that is balanced and does not raise taxes. It will build toward a strong future for our state and its people. Working together we will meet the needs of tomorrow and restore all the promise of our Golden State.

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This column is part of a monthly series for NCM’s ethnic media partners written by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

  (In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed by HispanicVista.com (www.hispanicvista.com) without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.)