Well, it had to be one of the briefest of State of the State addresses in California history. Twelve minutes in all. And it came with only one break for applause from the audience. That was for the firefighters who at one time last year were battling more than 2,000 fires throughout California.

But the governor made it clear that his was not going to be a traditional State of the State address. He said he would present his customary vision for the state later after the Legislature had come to agreement on a plan for tackling the state's budget deficit.

Most of his talk was directed at the need to confront a budget deficit that's projected to be $42 billion by June of next year.

The state "faces insolvency within weeks," he said. "We have no alternative but to find agreement." The budget deficit, he said, is a "rock upon our chest and we cannot breath until we get it off."

He got one laugh during the address. That was after he suggested that he and the legislators go without pay and without their $173 a day per diem for every day the budget is not approved after the constitutional deadline of June 15.

"You have to admit this is a brilliant idea," he said. That's when he got a few chuckles.

"I mean, if you call a taxi and the taxi doesn't come, you don't pay the driver. If the people's work is not getting done, the people's representatives should not get paid either. That is common sense in the real world." Nobody was laughing at that point.

To see a replay of the governor's speech, click here.

- Paul Gullixson