State address gets mixed reviews

Newport-Mesa legislators met Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s State of the State speech Tuesday with skepticism, although he took an approach one assemblyman called “conciliatory.”

The governor outlined a list of projects and reforms, including building and renovating more school classrooms, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, overhauling the health-care system and reforming the state’s redistricting system.

Newport Beach Republican Assemblyman Chuck DeVore said his constituents may be particularly interested in a plan to make more information about schools available online — for example, how they’re spending money or their dropout rates.

But most of the talk after Schwarzenegger’s speech was about what happened the day before — his major health-care proposal — and what will come today: the 2007-08 budget.

While governors generally don’t get into specifics in this type of big speech, DeVore thought it was important that the governor mentioned his health-care plan but left out the fiscal impact.

Schwarzenegger pointed to the state’s recent record-high revenues, DeVore said, and “that was not done through tax increases but, as the governor said, through not raising taxes.”

Huntington Beach Sen. Tom Harman, who represents Newport-Mesa, and Costa Mesa Assemblyman Van Tran, both Republicans, said they were wary of the health-care plan, one part of which is being called a fee by some and a tax by others.

Tran also said he’s concerned about the budget, which the governor said would “dramatically” reduce the deficit.

“Without being overly cynical, I have yet to see a comprehensive deficit-reduction budget,” Tran said. “It’s been deferred payments and delays … using bond revenues.”

Legislators had mixed feelings on the likelihood of political reform. The governor suggested changing the redistricting method to create more competitive races, and while Republicans think that could benefit them, Harman said he thinks the reform has a 50/50 chance of moving forward.

Such reform would be welcomed at the local level, Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor said.

“If the type of redistricting he’s proposing brings more competitiveness to the races, then that’s a good thing,” he said.