Live from the State of the State Speech

9:57am - We just conducted the prayer and pledge of allegience. I wonder how many legislators were cringing during all the mentions of God?

9:59am - Assembly Speaker Karen Bass is telling everyone to take seats and silence cell phones. People are still milling about and the gavel is now being banged.

10:00am - Maria Shriver and family was just introduced. The Governor just entered the chamber from the back while the introductions are being made.

10:01am - Introduction of Constitutional officers still going.

10:03 - The governor has been introduced and is making his way to the podium.

10:04 - Senate Prez Pro Tem Steinberg is making remarks, and has now introduced Schwarzenegger.

10:06: Lots of shoutouts and thank yous

10:06: Governor is introducting guests in the gallery. Former Sec of State George Schultz is here. Mayor and former Speaker Willie Brown is here. All of this is so self-congratulatory and ritualistic. All of these people obviously relish their role as being masters of the universe.

10:09: Arnold is starting off with a story of all the animals that live at his house (dogs, pony, pig). You know how speeches often start off with a personal anecdote. This is it.

10:10: "Last year in this room, we did great work together." He just talked about closing a budget gap of "$60 billion dollars, plus." Hmm, what about the current $30 billion debt?

10:11: Now parents, without principal's permission, they can move their children, and can move to get rid of incompetent principals, and children's performance can be linked to teacher's performance.

10:13: Calling for the passage of $11 billion dollars of bonds to fix the state's water system. The bonds are on the ballot in November. Heck, why not billions more in debt?

10:14: Summary of the coming year: priorities. First priority getting the economy and jobs back. "jobs, jobs, jobs."

10:15: $500 million dollar jobs package to create 100,000 jobs. Stimulate construction jobs, $10K homebuyer tax credit for new and exisiting homes. Exempt "Green Jobs" sector from sales tax.

10:16: We must reform our budget and tax system. Our basic problem is that our tax system does not reflect our economy. Our economy is diverse but our tax system is not. 38 million Californians depend on the taxes of 100,000 taxpayers, who pay 50% of our taxes.

10:19: We must reform the tax system because we cannot wait for the rich to bounce back.

10:20: The current tax and budget system is cruel. Which child do we cut? The poor one or the sick one?

10:21: Gov cites a $19.9 billion deficit. He calls for additional cuts. "We have no choice." He says he will protect education funding in his upcoming budget. This got lots of applause.

10:22: Just cited statistics that our spending on schools and prisons has flipped over the years; we used to spend more on schools, now we spend more on prisons.

10:24: The fed government is part of our budget problem. We only get $.78 from the feds for every dollar we spend their way. We aren't asking for a federal bailout, we are only asking for federal fairness.

10:25: Health Care - just complained about the "sweetheart deals" that other states are receiving. Just mentioned Nelson of Nebraska. "Nebraska gets the corn, and we get the husk."

10:27: Wants the equivalent of a water deal on pensions. Compares the pension issue to a train coming our way.

10:28: Currently reading quotes from a recent Time Magazine article that is singing California's praises.

10:29: Talking about his experiences during his visit to Iraq. Talking about the hardships that soldiers have faced (divorces, lost homes, PTSD). CA has more returning veterans - lots of applause - than any other state. Our state as well as the federal government... has a fundamental obligation for anyone who has shed blood. This is a priority.

10:31: Long applause for some returned Iraq veterans who are up in the gallery.

10:32: Speech over.