Gov. Jerry Brown, delivering his State of the State address, told lawmakers this morning that "California has problems but rumors of its demise are greatly exaggerated."
Brown depicted California as a place of wealth and opportunity, despite the slumping economy and the state's financial problems.
"California is on the mend," he said.
He also defended his ballot initiative to raise the state sales tax and income taxes on California's highest earners.
"It's fair, it's temporary and it's half of what people were paying in 2010," he said.
The Democratic governor, giving his second State of the State address of his third term, planned immediately after the speech to leave the Capitol for Los Angeles, starting a two-day swing through media-rich Southern California. He will speak at Los Angeles City Hall and meet with teachers in Burbank this afternoon, before events in Irvine and San Diego on Thursday.
The trip is a departure for Brown, who traveled infrequently last year. He was trying during the time of last year's State of the State address - and for months after - to negotiate a tax deal with Republicans in the Legislature, and he spent most of his time in meetings at the Capitol. But those talks failed, and Brown is turning directly this year to the electorate with a ballot initiative to raise taxes. He is expected to campaign throughout the state ahead of the November election.
The reaction of Republicans could have been predicted before Brown even spoke. Assembly Republican leader Connie Conway criticized it in a response video mistakenly posted online Tuesday, hours ahead of time.
"Today Governor Brown shared his vision for California for the year ahead," she said in the video. "Republicans were eager to hear his ideas for the many challenges facing our state. Unfortunately, the governor's vision is centered around one thing: higher taxes."