CDCAN REPORT #002-2011: Governor Brown sworn in and warns budget plan will be "painful"

SACRAMENTO, CALIF  (CDCAN) [Updated 01/03/2011  12:10 PM  (Pacific Time)]  -  Saying he will propose a “tough budget for tough times” Edmund Gerald “Jerry” Brown  was sworn in as the 39th California Governor this morning at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium in inauguration ceremonies before over 3,000 people, returning to the office for the third time after leaving it 28 years ago in 1983.  He was sworn in by the new Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, Tani Cantil-Sakauye.

Brown said that with the State facing “… a budget gap of tens of billions of dollars” in deficit, that the problem “…is far more than waste and inefficiency” and  “…government also pays for things that most people want.”

But the new Governor also said “..choices have to be made and difficult decisions taken.  At this stage in my life – I’ve not come here to embrace delay and denial”

As expected, Brown’s speech contained no details on what he will actually propose when he submits his proposed spending plan on January 10th.

Brown Takes Office Under Shadow Of Enormous State Budget Deficits

Brown takes office under the shadow of a staggering State budget deficit of over $25 billion – with on-going shortfalls projected of over $20 billion through 2016 unless the Governor and Legislature take permanent actions.    

The new governor is expected to propose a spending plan calling for well over $10 billion in new spending reductions – but also possibly a proposal to be put before voters a June special election that would extend for some period of time about $8 billion of temporary tax increases that are scheduled to expire this year. 

With the new Governor warning of “painful” budget decisions,  advocates for people with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind, seniors, low income families, workers and organizations and facilities who provide supports and services are bracing anxiously for what is expected to be sweeping major permanent reductions to health and human services, education and other critical programs.  The Governor previously warned before taking office in an education budget forum in Los Angeles that K-12 education and higher education would be hit with major spending cuts.

While not mentioning any specific budget proposals, Brown’s proposed spending plan will likely mean spending reduction proposals impacting a wide range of health and human services including regional center funded community based services and services for children and adults with developmental disabilities; In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) that provides in-home services to over 462,000 children and adults with disabilities, mental health needs, the blind and seniors; CalWORKS, the state’s welfare to work program that includes thousands of parents and children with special needs and disabilities and Medi-Cal, that serves over 7 million Californians, including well over 1.6 million children and adults with disabilities, the blind and seniors. 

Brown’s Inaugural Speech 16 Minutes Long

Governor Brown’s inaugural address was, as expected, a brief 16 minutes long, that mixed hope and optimism that California will rebound with sobering talk of painful budget cuts, though he provided no details. 

Brown said the day was special because he can once again follow in the footsteps of his father, Governor Edmund G. Brown Sr. who lost a bid for a third term in 1966 after being defeated by Ronald Reagan.  He contrasted the different times when he first took office in 1975 – compared to 2011, citing “our economy that is caught in a deep recession”.

“Our two political parties can’t come close” to agree on a solution – and that “perhaps that is the reason why the public holds government in such low esteem…”

Brown said that “…the year ahead will demand courage and sacrifice” and that the state budget plan he will propose will be “painful” and will be matched by “available revenues” but that given the enormous deficits projected for the State, that “…there is no other way forward”.

He said that in proposing a spending plan that will include major cuts that “we are Californians first, members of a political party second…”

He repeated what he has said before regarding his guiding principles in proposing solutions to California’s budget woes:

1. “Speak the truth – no more smoke and mirrors on the budget and no more empty promises.”
2. “No new taxes unless the people vote for them”
3. “Return as much as possible decisions to counties, and schools”  – decision making that he said was closer to the people he would be impacted by them.  

Brown said that would include proposals that would shift of realign key functions of state government to local government with a goal of “…greater accountability”

New First Lady Introduces Governor

The new California First Lady, Anne Gust Brown, introduced her husband, who in 1975 was sworn in for his first term as youngest Governor at age 36,  in the State’s modern history, and was sworn in today for his third term, at age 72, as the oldest person to hold the office. 

Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and wife Maria Shriver were present at the ceremonies, along with former Governor Gray Davis and his wife.  Former Lt. Governor Abel Maldonaldo was also present along with Assembly Speaker John Perez (Demcorat –Los Angeles) and Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (Democrat – Sacramento). Outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Democrat – San Francisco) and US Senator Dianne Feinstein (Democrat – California) were also present. 

Other California newly elected or re-elected constitutional statewide officers were also present. 

Brown Returns As Governor After First Being Elected in 1974

Brown returns as governor in an extraordinary comeback, after first being elected as the State’s chief executive in November 1974, serving two terms (from January 1975 to January 1983), succeeding a former actor, Governor Ronald Reagan.

Now, on January 3, 2011, 28 years later, Brown was sworn into that office for a third term, and once again, and again succeeds a former actor, this time, Arnold Schwarzenegger [Note: the state constitutional term limits amendment took effect after Brown left office, so he is eligible to serve two terms as governor beyond the two terms he already served]

Brown becomes only the second person in California history to be elected to a third term (the first was Earl Warren Jr, who resigned during his third term after being appointed by President Eisenhower as Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court. 

WHAT’S NEXT

• Today - A cocktail reception – by invitation – is scheduled to honor the new governor following the inauguration ceremonies, from 4:00  PM to 7:00 PM  at the California Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento.
• Today – Governor Brown said he would be announcing several new appointments.
• Today – California Legislature reconvenes for likely brief floor sessions at 2:00 PM
• January 10th – Governor Brown will submit his proposed 2011-2012 State Budget spending plan that will include mid-year reduction proposals.