"California did the impossible," declared Gov. Jerry Brown in his State of the State address. California has "once again confounded" its critics, he said, basking in the glow of a new optimism from a recovering economy, budget surplus and fresh political victories.

"We have wrought in just two years a solid and enduring budget," Brown said. "And, by God, we will persevere and keep it that way for years to come.

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