Gov. Brown Sworn In, Warns of Painful Budget Cuts to State Programs
On Monday, Jerry Brown (D) took office as California's 39th governor and warned of the impending sacrifices and hard decisions that will be necessary to address the state's budget crisis, the Los Angeles Times reports (York, Los Angeles Times, 1/4).
Budget Background
California faces an 18-month budget deficit that is estimated to be as high as $28 billion (Buchanan, San Francisco Chronicle, 1/4).
A portion of the shortfall stems from overly optimistic budget assumptions that former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and state legislators included in the budget plan for the current fiscal year (California Healthline, 1/3).
Expectations for Brown's Proposal
During his inaugural address, Brown said the budget plan he will release next Monday will include severe cuts to state spending. The new governor did not unveil specific details of his proposal, but said it would be a "tough budget for tough times" (Los Angeles Times, 1/4).
Brown is expected to propose wide-ranging cuts that could affect health care, prisons and nearly all other programs that receive state funding.
The new governor also is expected to revisit spending reductions previously proposed by Schwarzenegger and rejected by Democratic legislators. Such cuts could target:
- Healthy Families, California's Children's Health Insurance Program;
- In-home care for elderly and disabled residents; and
- Monthly grants to blind, elderly and disabled residents (Weintraub, HealthyCal, 1/3).
Brown also might pursue initiatives that California voters rejected in 2009, such as diverting funds from voter-approved accounts for mental health care and early childhood development (Lin, AP/San Jose Mercury News, 1/3).
For additional coverage of Brown's inauguration, see today's Capitol Desk post.
Editorials
Headlines and links to editorials on Brown's new gubernatorial term are provided below.
- "A Brown, Again" (Los Angeles Times, 1/4).
- "Brown Must Lay Out Long-Term Game Plan" (Sacramento Bee, 1/4).
- "Brown's Speech: Blunt, Sober and Necessary" (San Diego Union-Tribune, 1/4).
Broadcast Coverage
Headlines and links to broadcast coverage on Brown's inauguration are provided below.
- "Jerry Brown Takes Office Today, Faces $28 Billion Budget Gap" (Julian/Roe, "KPCC News," KPCC, 1/3).
- "Jerry Brown Sworn In as California's 39th Governor" (Lieszkovszky, "KXJZ News," Capital Public Radio, 1/3).
- "Jerry Brown Takes the Reins, Faces Fiscal Mess" (Myers, "The California Report," KQED, 1/3).
- "Pundits Say Brown May Be Best Choice To Tackle California Budget Crisis" (Small, "KPCC News," KPCC, 1/3).