02/25/2008 GAAS:98:08 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Governor Schwarzenegger Pushes for Federal Action on Key Priorities for California
Encouraging growth in California’s economy, protecting our nation’s borders and reversing the state’s housing slump were among the top issues Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger lobbied for today during meetings with White House and key administration officials. The Governor is in Washington D.C. for the annual National Governors Association Winter Meeting.
Governor Schwarzenegger today is meeting with President George W. Bush, U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Henry M. Paulson, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Susan Schwab.
“I will continue to push for action on key federal priorities for California. The temporary increase to the federal home loan limits included in the economic stimulus package helps reduce foreclosures and allows more Californians to achieve the American dream with solid, responsible loans, but it is time to permanently raise these limits,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “I am also asking the President to extend Operation Jump Start, which has successfully reduced illegal border crossings and significantly limited drug and human trafficking. In light of these successes, we cannot afford to jeopardize the safety and security of our fellow Americans by removing personnel prematurely.”
The Governor encouraged the Administration to support:
- Extending Operation
Jump Start in order to ensure a strong and secure border.
- Governor Schwarzenegger sent a letter last month urging President George W. Bush to continue Operation Jump Start until the mission is complete. The combined efforts of the Border Patrol and the California National Guard have proven successful in reducing illegal border crossings and limiting the influx of narcotics and human trafficking. Operation Jump Start is scheduled to end in July 2008, but the operational objective is only half complete: fewer than 3,000 of 6,000 new Border Patrol agents have been added to the force.
- Increasing
government mortgage loan limits permanently to ease the impact of the mortgage
crisis on California.
- No other state has been more impacted by the ongoing mortgage crisis than California. The Federal Economic Stimulus plan increased home mortgage loan limits to 125 percent in high volume areas, temporarily through the end of the year. For California, the new cap increases loan limits from $417,000 to $729,500. To make the increased loan limits permanent, Congress must pass comprehensive reform legislation before the end of the year. The Governor sent a letter earlier this year urging Congress to pass these reforms quickly and he sent a similar letter last fall.
The Governor will lead border governors, from both the U.S. and Mexico, in a meeting with U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez. They will discuss issues affecting the U.S./Mexico border such as border security, money laundering, economic development and disaster preparedness and response.
“I am committed to continuing to strengthen California’s relationship and collaboration with Mexico. We face many similar challenges, that’s why it is imperative that we work together to increase trade, create more jobs, secure our borders, protect our environment and improve the quality of life for our people,” said Governor Schwarzenegger.
On Sunday, Governor Schwarzenegger led another meeting with U.S. and Mexican governors, U.S. Secretary of the Department of Interior Dirk Kempthorne and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Bob Johnson to discuss regional water management.
In August, Governor Schwarzenegger will chair the 26th Annual Border Governor's Conference. To be held in Los Angeles, the conference will be attended by governors from Arizona, Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, New Mexico, Sonora, Tamaulipas and Texas. They will address the many issues impacting states on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border, including agriculture, security, economic development, education, energy, environment, health and tourism.
Yesterday, Governor Schwarzenegger welcomed 13 governors into the “Building America’s Future,” a coalition to make investing in the nation’s aging infrastructure a federal priority. “Building America's Future” was launched last month in Los Angeles by Governor Schwarzenegger, Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
