Governor-elect Becerra speaks after historic win — Full Press Conference

[0:00] well thank you very much for taking the time to be with us in case you don't know javier [0:04] becerra governor-elect pleased to say that here with our protem monique limon and our speaker [0:11] rob rivas and get used to this because i think this is what we're going to be doing [0:18] because we got lots to do and the public made it very clear we should be focused on job one [0:25] two and three and that is cost of living cost of living cost of living and letting california [0:32] families know we want them to stay we want them to thrive we want them to retire in california and [0:39] that means tackling housing and thank you to all the californians california voters who passed [0:45] proposition one we will put that to work immediately if you want to lower your health care help us now [0:51] go to washington dc and get some of that trillion dollars that the president cut out of health care [0:56] back so we don't have to take any of our california families off of health care help us tackle these [1:03] rising prices on energy whether it's at the your your utility bill or at the gas pump and certainly [1:12] let's not wait let's tackle this issue of artificial intelligence and where we're going to go california [1:19] is home to so much of tech and ai and california has always led on these issues this should be no [1:26] different california will be ready to lead when it comes to how we deal with ai and so i think [1:32] we are in agreement uh the two leaders have said that we could go straight to questions from here [1:38] but i think uh we try to make it very clear through the the fact that we are standing here just a couple [1:44] of days after the election to say we're going to work together this will be a partnership we understand [1:50] how important it is but most importantly we're going to get some stuff done because that's what the [1:55] i believe the california voters and the american people signaled on november the third so with [2:00] that we will try to take questions and let me do this jonathan i'm going to ask you to sort of [2:04] guide us on that otherwise you'll all be upset at me in the name of the world cutting taxes for [2:13] everyday californians not just talking about low income but the everyday middle class california who [2:19] is looking for some relief from ashley i think uh everything should be on the table by the way you're [2:26] probably going to be hearing me say that a lot whether it's on energy whether it's on revenue [2:30] tax policy whether it's on health care why should we take anything off the table uh we will explore it [2:36] at the end of the day what should stay on is what's smart and makes sense and so from my perspective and [2:42] i'll let the two leaders answer uh i take nothing off the table okay okay all right well i think uh our [2:54] governor-elect uh he said it well everything must be on the table as you know ashley is those that are [3:01] here um you know i spoke about affordability when i was sworn in as speaker back in june of 2023 and [3:07] that work continues you know that it was you know this past tuesday uh election results were overwhelming [3:12] from california to texas all over the country but this wasn't an this was not only a rejection of trump [3:18] and republicans and their policies this was not an endorsement of democrats the you know our mandate [3:24] is to do things differently people want change they you know they're they're tired of being tired [3:31] and you know we have to ensure that we're delivering results for everyday californians [3:36] who expect more from their government they feel government isn't working for them [3:40] and so we have our work cut out as the governor said everything is on the table but we have to do [3:45] everything we can to ensure that we are improving people's lives here in california [3:49] so look i think and sorry everybody my voice is gone but i think um one of the things that's [3:57] important for all of us is that we also know affordability comes with outcomes what our californians [4:03] and really folks are telling us all over this country is they want to be able to afford housing [4:07] and housing is something that we've talked about they want to be able to afford child care and that's [4:13] something that we all care deeply about they want to be able to afford the cost of living in california [4:20] and that's groceries that's the energy costs and all of those things are part of the conversations we [4:25] have we are also thinking not just of what can be done here in california but the possibility of what [4:32] we can now do with partners real partners at the federal level who will also think about these issues [4:40] because some of these have an intersection between the federal and state and so it's not just the state [4:45] taxes that we're looking at we're looking also at the federal level and what we would be able to do [4:50] everything's on the table but we're also very clear that the outcomes of anything at the table have to [4:57] deliver for californians in the basic things that they care about and that's housing energy costs cost of [5:04] living child care um the basics of living here and being able to afford good schools places to live [5:12] and good jobs [5:32] someone can pull money off of trees i would hire them but uh since i [5:37] suspect that'll be tough to find we will look for someone who knows their numbers who can do this [5:43] well has experiencing balancing a budget as large as the budget of the state of california i think we're [5:50] going to have some good folks to select front and and stay tuned uh we'll probably be making some [5:55] announcements pretty soon at least with with regard to the transition team we hope to assemble and most [6:01] importantly perhaps the person or people that will ask to help us go through the transition on budget [6:07] matters next question next question we'll get back to you on that [6:12] government we'll talk about affordability that's interesting [6:17] and homes and houses uh what are your plans to work with california legislative black caucus as [6:22] far as uh helping more black families you know achieve purchasing home and saving the [6:28] existing home ready to work ready to work what else can i tell you i'm ready to work with everybody ready to work [6:34] we haven't spoken to those members about those i spoke to pretty much every member that has come [6:39] up to me and pretty much every member that has been willing to meet with me in the state assembly [6:43] and in the state senate and i've met with a lot of the local leaders supervisors city council [6:48] leaders and so we will continue to work with everyone because there's no way we handle all these [6:54] issues for all these families in california who are saying they need some help they're hurting [6:58] if we haven't met with all the leadership that gets elected so absolutely ready [7:15] fair share um you know the great thing about the department of finance and legislative analyst [7:22] offices they know numbers they have a really good way of digging deep into the data i i think we're [7:29] going to find out i want to find out uh who is and who is not paying their fair share i said that from [7:35] the very beginning we will make sure that californians understand that people are paying their fair share [7:42] i want to make sure california taxpayers know who's paying their fair share and who's not i want california [7:48] taxpayers to know who's getting support from taxpayers but isn't paying their fair share because that's [7:55] very important no i don't think anybody got a study welcome to send it on down we'll take a look i don't [8:03] think we need it there's been enough done that we have a sense of where the money goes and where the money [8:09] isn't and so i think we can make sure uh we can move pretty quickly on ensuring that we start to move [8:17] towards fair share prop 40 even though i did not come out for it i think was a clear signal we don't [8:24] believe everybody in california is paying their fair share i intend to do everything i can to make [8:29] sure people are paying their fair share and if you ask what that means i'll say as i've always said [8:35] if you're paid at a tax rate in california that's lower than the tax rate of a teacher a firefighter [8:42] a nurse a police officer and you're making way more money than they are in my book you're not paying [8:47] your fair share clearly you didn't read the assembly budget blueprint where we identified and spoke [9:04] about the fair share i mean we're all in alignment we want to see something done in this space but [9:09] details matter and i think you know um you know more to come on that but you know like many other [9:16] issues that that we're exploring and uh we're studying there is clear alignment that we want [9:21] to do something in this space [9:24] uh [9:25] to say [9:28] delante [9:28] it [9:31] you [9:32] and [9:36] and [9:42] yes [9:47] lo he dicho muchas veces california no se va a hincar para nadie en defender [9:56] the people who work hard, the people who collect all the food that we eat, [10:02] who clean the baths, who take care of our parents and our children. [10:08] If you work in California, we are here to not only protect you, but help you to advance. [10:19] So this is a moment for the three of us to say, California is listening, [10:25] we are going to do everything possible, understanding the reality that we are not the federal government. [10:31] We do not control the federal agencies, nor can we overcome the federal laws. [10:38] So please, know your rights. [10:42] It is important that any person who feels fear, understand their rights. [10:50] Because in understanding their rights, one can help himself. [10:54] But no doubt that person, if there is a way to help, protect and advance, [11:02] your interests are going to have us. [11:07] This is what I say after 24 years in the Congress, [11:21] all those years working to achieve an integrated reform, [11:27] it is very difficult. [11:29] I started, before that passed the proposal 187, [11:36] looking for that reform. [11:38] So it is difficult. [11:40] Can we do it? [11:41] Can we do it? [11:42] Can we do it? [11:43] Yes, it can. [11:44] And I think that with this Congress, it can. [11:47] Can we do it? [11:48] Can we do it? [11:49] Can we do it? [11:50] Can we do it? [11:51] Can we do it? [11:52] Can we do it? [11:53] Can we do it? [11:54] Can we do it? [11:56] Can we do it? [11:58] We have toело and we have, like we did late on November 3, [12:01] it says that we will be in November schneller. [12:17] We thought about the problems of life cost. [12:19] We are about to market and time for the changes a day. [12:23] We can。 [12:24] We will allow that later. [12:25] We can. [12:27] Can we claim that the problems of life cost. [12:28] We all know. [12:29] We can. [12:30] When the Senate, from overHubble on half, [12:31] it tells us that now will happen [12:32] the one thing. [12:33] I am not the governor, but what I can say is that we have been clear with the past of the proposed one, the measure one, now we have real dollars to invest in the construction of housing, but not any housing, housing that already has its permits, [12:53] it is ready to put the floor on the floor, so we can move forward, I know we can continue giving the medical care care to all the families that are at the moment of losing their medical care for what Donald Trump did, [13:13] but we are going to do everything to protect that medical care, working with the Congress, and of course, the issue of the cost of energy, that is something that can help us in Washington DC, [13:27] these tariffs have increased the cost of everything, if the Congress can finally get the mentality that the President has to use tariffs to advance his political agenda, [13:42] we can reduce prices, so what can we do? There are many things, the details come when we have the authority tool to do those things. [13:53] I am interested to hear what they say on Power Hour, so I listen really closely, and I will tell you on the mayor's race, I understand that Mayor Bass has now conceded, [14:15] and I congratulate and welcome incoming Mayor Rahman, I believe she tried to reach me, I will try to get back to her as quickly as I can, [14:29] and we are going to need to work closely in this administration with all of our mayors, not just the big city mayors, but all of our mayors and supervisors, [14:37] I hope I can change the relationship with local government, I know local government fear sometimes that Sacramento doesn't pay attention to them, and short changes them, [14:47] I hope that we can have conversations so they feel like they are full partners, and so I absolutely will reach out to the incoming mayor of Los Angeles. [14:55] Wait a minute, I'm interested in hearing the answer on Power Hour. [15:00] So look, I think that on all energy matters, I think there's an opportunity here to look both short term and long term, [15:14] and so I think our caucus and the legislature has always welcomed every idea, but I do think that we're going to have the opportunity for all three of us, [15:24] for all three branches of government, to figure out both the short term and long term sustainability. [15:31] We've tried elements like Power Hour, and they've worked in the past. [15:36] They've been short term, kind of when, you know, things got a crunch, there was a crunch and we needed to help people identify the best time of the day to use energy, [15:46] and the least time of the day to use energy. [15:49] So certainly, I think that there's an appetite to consider to explore in advance both short term and long term exploration about energy sustainability. [15:58] I do think it will be a very important issue for us to tackle, not just this year, but in the coming years as well. [16:03] One minute. [16:04] One minute. [16:05] One minute. [16:06] One minute. [16:07] One minute. [16:08] Well, specific to, you know, some Power Hour, you know, could there be alignment? [16:14] Possibly. [16:15] You know, we're about to swear at a new legislature in less than a month. [16:20] It's going to be historic in numbers, in size. [16:22] The largest, you know, number of Democrats in the Assembly, and I'm sure the Senate as well in the history of the state. [16:30] So we, as you all know, we get a lot of bills, a lot of ideas every single year. [16:34] And, you know, could there be some alignment on this idea of the Power Hour? [16:38] Possibly. [16:39] But, you know, specific to this proposal, I don't know enough about it. [16:43] Okay. [16:45] I'll work on it. [16:46] I'll work on it. [16:47] Excuse me. [16:48] Last question for Color News. [16:49] You know, every time people ask those, will you commit to this? [16:59] Will you promise to that? [17:01] That may get you elected, but that isn't the way you govern. [17:05] And I made it very clear I was going to be the health care governor for California. [17:10] I made it very clear that I want California to be the backstop for all families who need access to health care. [17:16] But you want me to make a commitment to families without knowing what the budget will be, without knowing where the votes are? [17:21] And that's just playing politics the wrong way. [17:23] I'm no longer a candidate. [17:25] I'm now the governor-elect. [17:27] So I will take this very seriously. [17:29] Am I committed to make sure families don't lose their health care? [17:32] Not only that, I'm committed to expand it so more families have access to health care. [17:37] But you want me to make a commitment without knowing what the budget will be, without knowing where the votes are? [17:42] I'm not going to play you that game. [17:44] I will tell you that no one on this campaign for governor was more committed than I was to make sure that not one family lost their health care [17:53] and that those families that didn't have it would get it. [17:56] But guys, don't play this game about asking me to commit because I didn't get elected doing that. [18:02] A lot of other folks make these wild promises and they're not the governor-elect. [18:07] I ran on my record of what I've done. [18:11] And I have expanded access to health care. [18:13] I have lowered health care costs. [18:14] And that's what I intend to do again. [18:16] But I can't make a commitment without knowing what exactly I face. [18:20] Because I don't think any voter, any taxpayer, any Californian wants to have governor who's still acting like a politician. [18:29] Thank you, folks. [18:30] Thank you so much.