The popular saying is that everything is big in Texas, but try these facts about California and its government burden on for size:

* 38 million people, including 22 million in an eight-county region in the southern portion of the state
* 207 languages spoken
* 13% of the total U.S. gross domestic product
* $19 billion a year in highway funding, with local and state resources providing 38% each and the remaining 24% coming from the federal government 

A top official with the California Department of Transportation shared these numbers and more during a recent presentation.

We may not have the beaches of Malibu, the vast mountainous regions, or the legend of Kurt Rambis, but I think I’ll stick with the Hoosier state.