California Governor Jerry Brown first served in that office from 1975 to 1983.  He implemented  many of the policies that form the foundation of the California of today.  He was considered too idealistic – or radical – depending on point of view.  In January 2015 he began his fourth and term-limited final service as Governor.  Spanning 1975 to 2015, what are his priorities?

Addressing global climate change:  California will use renewable resources for 50% of its electricity needs, and increase from the current 33% mandate.  Governor Brown will take the proceeds from auctioning carbon-dioxide emissions credits to construct a high-speed rail line.  In order to protect a river delta area considered ecologically sensitive he will build tunnels to carry water.

Governor Brown will release his draft state budget on Friday, January 9.  Will it include increased spending on schools, health care clinics for poor and underserved areas or unemployment?  Not known; stay tuned.

Governor Brown argues that he has a mandate to address future priorities because he transformed a projected budget deficit of $25 billion into a sound fiscal condition for the state.  In his inaugural address he stood firm about restraining spending overall and cutting some budget items.  His odd juxtaposition of fiscal restraint and very expensive new spending priorities stands out among governments today – municipal, state and federal.  He has no ambitions to hhigher office.  He is the poplular Democractic governor of the most populous state, with solid party majorities in the state legislature.  Is California the model for the future of the US, state and federal?  Or is the state just riding the peak of a roller coaster without provisioning for the inevitable steep ride?  Or is the California economy simply so big, so diverse, and so prosperous that any policy works?