This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/18/california-evolution-jerry-brown-governor-moonbeam

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
California's Jerry Brown: the evolution of 'Governor Moonbeam' Jerry Brown, version 2.0: 'California's the healthiest it's been in a decade'
(about 2 hours later)
For years, California was a gift for late-night comedians. It was a political circus, a once-golden state on the verge of bankruptcy, reckless and ungovernable. And Jerry Brown, who led the state before the crisis, was remembered, if at all, as "Governor Moonbeam", a kooky, distant predecessor to the baroque Arnold Schwarzenegger.For years, California was a gift for late-night comedians. It was a political circus, a once-golden state on the verge of bankruptcy, reckless and ungovernable. And Jerry Brown, who led the state before the crisis, was remembered, if at all, as "Governor Moonbeam", a kooky, distant predecessor to the baroque Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“California is so broke that Mexico fixed the hole in the fence to keep us from crawling back in again,” Jay Leno joked last year. “California is so broke that I saw a going-out-of-business sign at a meth lab.”“California is so broke that Mexico fixed the hole in the fence to keep us from crawling back in again,” Jay Leno joked last year. “California is so broke that I saw a going-out-of-business sign at a meth lab.”
But now the punchlines have dried up, because California, to widespread astonishment, has abandoned dysfunction. The budget is in surplus. Politicians and voters are showing sense and moderation. And it's all happening under Jerry Brown, version 2.0.But now the punchlines have dried up, because California, to widespread astonishment, has abandoned dysfunction. The budget is in surplus. Politicians and voters are showing sense and moderation. And it's all happening under Jerry Brown, version 2.0.
“Word of California's demise was greatly exaggerated,” the governor told the Guardian. “The annual budget is stable for the first time in a decade.” And now Brown, 75, is back in the spotlight, like the old days, as he prepares a likely run for re-election next year. “Word of California's demise was greatly exaggerated,” the governor told the Guardian. “The annual budget is stable for the first time in a decade.” And now Brown, 75, is back in the spotlight, like the old days, as he prepares a likely run for re-election next year. 
An environmentalist who favours fracking, a fiscal hawk who champions mega-infrastructure projects, a once would-be priest who dated a rock star, he is hard to categorise. But for his political savvy and ability to get stuff done he is widely seen as a wily operator. Vice-president Joe Biden has called him “the smartest guy in American politics”. An environmentalist who favours fracking, a fiscal hawk who champions mega-infrastructure projects, a once would-be priest who dated a rock star, he is hard to categorise. But for his political savvy and ability to get stuff done he is widely seen as a wily operator. Vice-president Joe Biden has called him “the smartest guy in American politics”. 
In a wide-ranging interview with the Guardian during a recent fundraising trip to Los Angeles, Brown discussed his record, the state's rebound and how it could all still go wrong, as well as what he’s learned and how he’s changed over his career.In a wide-ranging interview with the Guardian during a recent fundraising trip to Los Angeles, Brown discussed his record, the state's rebound and how it could all still go wrong, as well as what he’s learned and how he’s changed over his career.
“I'd say California is the healthiest it's been in more than a decade. When I took over the deficit was $27bn, and now it's in surplus. So that's very positive,” he said, seated in an amrchair overlooking the Pacific. “But significant challenges remain. And they grow, they don't diminish.”“I'd say California is the healthiest it's been in more than a decade. When I took over the deficit was $27bn, and now it's in surplus. So that's very positive,” he said, seated in an amrchair overlooking the Pacific. “But significant challenges remain. And they grow, they don't diminish.”
In this, his third term, Brown has become California's oldest and longest-serving governor. He’s no longer the glamorous, frenetic figure who dated Linda Ronstadt and exalted space exploration while ruling the state from 1975-83. Nor does he exude the hubris he showed in the unsuccessful runs he made for the White House in 1976, 1980 and 1992. But he is by common consent a shrewder, more focused politician, who has mastered the nuts and bolts of leading an unwieldy state of 38m people.In this, his third term, Brown has become California's oldest and longest-serving governor. He’s no longer the glamorous, frenetic figure who dated Linda Ronstadt and exalted space exploration while ruling the state from 1975-83. Nor does he exude the hubris he showed in the unsuccessful runs he made for the White House in 1976, 1980 and 1992. But he is by common consent a shrewder, more focused politician, who has mastered the nuts and bolts of leading an unwieldy state of 38m people.
George Skelton, the Los Angeles Times' veteran political columnist, recently wrote that Brown did not yet rank among the state's greatest governors. “But it's starting to look like he could get close …” Skelton said. “[A]s his governing experience increases, Brown becomes more and more effective.”George Skelton, the Los Angeles Times' veteran political columnist, recently wrote that Brown did not yet rank among the state's greatest governors. “But it's starting to look like he could get close …” Skelton said. “[A]s his governing experience increases, Brown becomes more and more effective.”
The son of Governor Pat Brown, a Democratic star who served two terms and was defeated in his quest for a third by Ronald Reagan, he grew up steeped in politics, and succeeded Reagan to become governor himself in 1974, when he was just 36-years-old. But distracted by too many priorities, and his White House dreams, his stewardship of the state was unfocused. He was no hippie, but the “Moonbeam” nickname stuck.The son of Governor Pat Brown, a Democratic star who served two terms and was defeated in his quest for a third by Ronald Reagan, he grew up steeped in politics, and succeeded Reagan to become governor himself in 1974, when he was just 36-years-old. But distracted by too many priorities, and his White House dreams, his stewardship of the state was unfocused. He was no hippie, but the “Moonbeam” nickname stuck.
After he lost the Democratic presidential nomination in 1980, and then a Senate bid in 1982, his political career seemed over. He travelled to Japan to study Buddhism, then Calcutta to work with the poor.After he lost the Democratic presidential nomination in 1980, and then a Senate bid in 1982, his political career seemed over. He travelled to Japan to study Buddhism, then Calcutta to work with the poor.
California, meanwhile, was stumbling towards fiscal disaster. Voters used ballot propositions to both expand state services and lower taxes, prompting a lurch from fiscal crisis to fiscal crisis. Schwarzenegger, elected in 2003 to clean up the mess, only worsened it. Brown, having resumed public life as mayor of Oakland and then state attorney general, succeeded the Governator in 2011 amid headlines branding California a basket case.California, meanwhile, was stumbling towards fiscal disaster. Voters used ballot propositions to both expand state services and lower taxes, prompting a lurch from fiscal crisis to fiscal crisis. Schwarzenegger, elected in 2003 to clean up the mess, only worsened it. Brown, having resumed public life as mayor of Oakland and then state attorney general, succeeded the Governator in 2011 amid headlines branding California a basket case.
Three years later, what had been a $27bn deficit is headed towards a $2.2bn surplus next year -- a figure which may rise to $9.6bn in 2018, according to official estimates. And for the first time in years, California’s economy is growing faster than the US average.Three years later, what had been a $27bn deficit is headed towards a $2.2bn surplus next year -- a figure which may rise to $9.6bn in 2018, according to official estimates. And for the first time in years, California’s economy is growing faster than the US average.
Alan Auerbach, a professor of economics and law at Berkeley, said the state’s economy has improved largely thanks to external reasons, beyond California's – or Brown's – control. And while the governor has a sense of history, and absorbed lessons from the dotcom boom and bust, grave problems still riddle the economy and budget, said Auerbach: “California is not in great shape.”Alan Auerbach, a professor of economics and law at Berkeley, said the state’s economy has improved largely thanks to external reasons, beyond California's – or Brown's – control. And while the governor has a sense of history, and absorbed lessons from the dotcom boom and bust, grave problems still riddle the economy and budget, said Auerbach: “California is not in great shape.”
“That said, he's been quite responsible,” Auerbach said. “Even with the budget situation looking better, he did what he could to temper the enthusiasm for spending increases from the legislature.”“That said, he's been quite responsible,” Auerbach said. “Even with the budget situation looking better, he did what he could to temper the enthusiasm for spending increases from the legislature.”
Indeed, Brown has recently been proving himself a master of tacking left, right, and back again in order to muster support from both sides. He persuaded his party to slash spending and, against conventional wisdom, persuaded voters to back a tax hike. Indeed, Brown has recently been proving himself a master of tacking left, right, and back again in order to muster support from both sides. He persuaded his party to slash spending and, against conventional wisdom, persuaded voters to back a tax hike. 
Brown, who has always had a strong fiscal conservative streak, has urged continued austerity, warning that public employee pensions and healthcare costs, plus overdue infrastructure upgrades, could unravel gains. Speaking with the Guardian, he again warned that good times are not guaranteed. “We don't get steady as you go,” he said. “We get lurching forward with sudden reverses. That's just the way the capitalist economy goes. And no one has ever figured out a way to flatten out the business cycle. Relative to that we have to be very careful. In California the money piles up, as it did under Gray Davis and Schwarzenegger, and then it disappears because the market changes and the revenue declines.”Brown, who has always had a strong fiscal conservative streak, has urged continued austerity, warning that public employee pensions and healthcare costs, plus overdue infrastructure upgrades, could unravel gains. Speaking with the Guardian, he again warned that good times are not guaranteed. “We don't get steady as you go,” he said. “We get lurching forward with sudden reverses. That's just the way the capitalist economy goes. And no one has ever figured out a way to flatten out the business cycle. Relative to that we have to be very careful. In California the money piles up, as it did under Gray Davis and Schwarzenegger, and then it disappears because the market changes and the revenue declines.”
Brown's cautious attitude contrasts with the soaring rhetoric that was once one of his trademarks. (The slogan of his 1980 presidential campaign was, "Protect the Earth, serve the people, and explore the universe.”) So does the focus on the nitty-gritty details that he’s shown in his latest go-round as governor. He recently spent a day quizzing dozens of prison officials about everything from crime, equipment, gangs, cells and unions. (Too little, too late to mend an overcrowded system rife with abuses, such as decades of solitary confinement, say critics). Brown's cautious attitude contrasts with the soaring rhetoric that was once one of his trademarks. (The slogan of his 1980 presidential campaign was, "Protect the Earth, serve the people, and explore the universe.”) So does the focus on the nitty-gritty details that he’s shown in his latest go-round as governor. He recently spent a day quizzing dozens of prison officials about everything from crime, equipment, gangs, cells and unions. (Too little, too late to mend an overcrowded system rife with abuses, such as decades of solitary confinement, say critics). 
“That is something governors don't normally do because that's governing,” Brown said of his day discussing prisons. “And so much of what elected officials have to do is campaign, raise money, try to get out some soundbites and some photo ops. But to really get your hands on what's going on, it does take time. In that sense I think experience is valuable. Which is not what I thought before. The first time I ran I thought fresh eyes would be good. Now I think an experienced eye is more to the point, more urgent.”“That is something governors don't normally do because that's governing,” Brown said of his day discussing prisons. “And so much of what elected officials have to do is campaign, raise money, try to get out some soundbites and some photo ops. But to really get your hands on what's going on, it does take time. In that sense I think experience is valuable. Which is not what I thought before. The first time I ran I thought fresh eyes would be good. Now I think an experienced eye is more to the point, more urgent.”
Ross DeVol, chief research officer at the Milken Institute, a Santa Monica-based think tank, said Brown is now more pragmatic than he was in his earlier incarnation, and that he’s come to see that advancing his social agenda means broadening and stabilising the tax base. “I see Jerry as being the adult in the room. He understands the business community.”Ross DeVol, chief research officer at the Milken Institute, a Santa Monica-based think tank, said Brown is now more pragmatic than he was in his earlier incarnation, and that he’s come to see that advancing his social agenda means broadening and stabilising the tax base. “I see Jerry as being the adult in the room. He understands the business community.”
DeVol, who knows the governor, suspects he still dreams of being president. (Asked about a 2016 presidential run, Brown didn’t show much enthusiasm – “I doubt that. At this point I'll be 78 and ready for some kind of retirement,” he said – but neither did he completely close off the possibility.) A surer bet is Brown’s re-election as governor next year, should he decide to run for a fourth term. “Unless he get hits by a bus, I'd say it's 99%,” DeVol said.DeVol, who knows the governor, suspects he still dreams of being president. (Asked about a 2016 presidential run, Brown didn’t show much enthusiasm – “I doubt that. At this point I'll be 78 and ready for some kind of retirement,” he said – but neither did he completely close off the possibility.) A surer bet is Brown’s re-election as governor next year, should he decide to run for a fourth term. “Unless he get hits by a bus, I'd say it's 99%,” DeVol said.
Brown hopes to burnish his reputation by building a bullet train and major new water pipelines – hugely ambitious, troubled projects – but his greatest legacy may turn out to be his support for fracking California’s Monterey Shale, which is said to contain 15bn barrels of oil recoverable through hydraulic fracturing.Brown hopes to burnish his reputation by building a bullet train and major new water pipelines – hugely ambitious, troubled projects – but his greatest legacy may turn out to be his support for fracking California’s Monterey Shale, which is said to contain 15bn barrels of oil recoverable through hydraulic fracturing.
Brown has backed new regulations and an environmental impact review but rejected a drilling moratorium, dismaying Green allies. The state needs fossil fuels while it slowly transitions to state-backed alternative energy, he said. “No free lunch here. We don't drill, we import.” The man who once ran for president on protecting the Earth made no apology for his stance. “Dealing with climate change does not lend itself to bullhorns or bumper stickers. It's a long hard slog.”Brown has backed new regulations and an environmental impact review but rejected a drilling moratorium, dismaying Green allies. The state needs fossil fuels while it slowly transitions to state-backed alternative energy, he said. “No free lunch here. We don't drill, we import.” The man who once ran for president on protecting the Earth made no apology for his stance. “Dealing with climate change does not lend itself to bullhorns or bumper stickers. It's a long hard slog.”
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.