From: pinky@milton.u.washington.edu (Robert Burbank)
Subject: Jerry Browns record
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 21:20:11 GMT

Jerry Brown on the Arts
------------------------
------------------------- 

Jerry Brown believes that art is an important part of society, and
that politics can help the arts while enhancing the quality of life
for all people. As Governor.

He created the California Arts Council, which awarded $38.2 million in
grants to artists.

He established a Summer School for the Arts and passed the Exemplary
Arts Education Act.

He signed the Art in Public Buildings Act which commissioned works of
art in public buildings.

He signed the California Live-Work Space Act which allows cities to
change zoning laws so that artists can live and work in the same space.

He supported the Resale Royalties Act which provides a 5% royalty on
the price of art work when it is sold.

He signed the Artist-Dealer relations Act which helped artists to
collect monies owed them by art dealers.

Jerry Brown on Campaign Financing
==============================

As Secretary of State of California,  Jerry Brown took the following measures:

Called for full enforcement of election laws, requiring specific and
accurate donor lists from candidates

Argued in court for precise reporting of campaign contributions

Filed briefs with the FCC to try and ensure free air time for
candidates, reducing the need for enormous campaign war chests of
money for the media.

Today, Jerry Brown will accept no campaign contribution greater than
$100, as opposed to the $1000 dollar limit imposed by federal election
regulations.  In addition, Jerry Brown will accept money only from
individuals - none from PACs or Corporations.

Jerry Brown on Consumer Issues
=============================

Jerry Brown's concern for people and his willingness to stand up for
their rights is obvious in his record on consumer issues. That is the
reason why his administration was criticized by special interest
groups - because Jerry Brown used his office to look after the needs
of the people rather than business' private agenda. As Governor of California:

He pushed for and signed legislation ensuring California citizens a
comprehensive right to privacy.

He enacted legislation prohibiting creditors and bill collectors from
engaging in harassment.

He signed legislation prohibiting sex or marital status from being a
factor in denial of credit to an individual.

He limited the amount of security deposit that a Landlord could charge
a tenant.

He enacted reforms to make small claims court more accessible to
consumers, including adding evening and Saturday sessions and raising
the claim ceiling, to $1500.

He established the nation's first anti-redlining measure, prohibiting
discrimination by lenders based on geographic location or ethnic
makeup of a neighborhood.

He established life line utility rates, allowing people on modest
incomes to qualify for reduced rates for basic services.

He ended industry domination of regulatory boards by drafting
legislation which placed a majority of public members on most state boards.

He prohibited discrimination by occupational licensing boards and
required licensing examinations to be job related.

He vetoed legislation which would have allowed variable rate mortgages
to have no upper limit on their interest rate.

He allowed price advertising by doctors and lawyers.

He required item pricing at all retail grocery outlets - including
computer checkouts.

He allowed consumers to purchase generic brand prescription drugs

He enacted a lemon law, protecting the buyers of defective new cars.

He set up a Marketing Hotline to provide consumers with information
about farmers and farmers markets so they could buy produce directly.

Brown on Criminal Justice
========================

In 1982 alone, as Governor of California, Jerry Brown signed 150 new
anti-crime bills which resulted in more than 5,600 criminals per year
going to prison for new or longer terms. As Governor, Jerry Brown:

Required mandatory prison sentences for persons using a gun in the
commission of a major crime.

Required mandatory prison sentences for felons convicted of repeat offenses.

Signed legislation eliminating early parole for most inmates.

Supported and signed legislation authorizing construction of twelve
new prisons.

Required mandatory prison sentences for persons committing violent
crimes against the elderly, blind or severely handicapped.

Signed into law the first Career Criminal Prosecution program in the
nation to help take repeat offenders off the streets. As a result,
convictions in these cases increased by almost 50%, sentences
increased by almost 33%, and bail increased by 100%.

Signed legislation providing state funding to local sheriffs and
police for a similar program, the Career Criminal Apprehension Program.

Created the Crime Resistance Task Force, which funded the
establishment of local Neighborhood Watch programs.

Signed the Victim/Witness Assistance Program into law. This program,
paid for entirely by fines levied on criminals, provided funding for
34 centers which help over 60,000 victims and witnesses of crimes each year.

Signed legislation creating Rape Crisis Centers to assist victims of
sexual assault.

Reduced the penalty for possession of small amounts of marijuana, but
imposed mandatory prison sentences on heroin pushers.



Jerry Brown on the Economy
=======================

Jerry Brown used government to provide California's businesses with an
environment in which they could compete and succeed. During his term
as Governor of California:

More than two million new jobs were created in California.

He fought for and signed a $1 billion tax cut - California went from
having the 4th to the 23rd highest taxes in the United States.

He blocked efforts to increase sales, income, liquor and gasoline taxes.

He eliminated the oil depletion allowance for major oil companies and
created tax credits for businesses hiring targeted unemployed workers.

He revised the preferential income policies which allowed wealthy
people to dodge state income taxes.

The Western States Agricultural Commission was created to promote
trade in U.S. agricultural products.

He established the World Trade Commission to promote international
trade, investment and tourism. Exports from the state more than
doubled, to account for 12.4% of all U.S. exports.

He oversaw the creation of the Department of Economics and Business
Development which generated $1.1 billion in new investment.

His administration saw venture capital rise to nearly three times the
amount accumulated by any other state.

He authorized California Industrial Development Bonds to allow local
governments to issue bonds for modernization and expansion of industry.

He created the Governor's Executive Fellows program bringing private
sector executives into state government to train executives in state agencies.

He signed legislation creating the Housing Finance Agency, providing
loans for moderate and low-income housing construction.

He created the Pension Investment Unit resulting in the investment of
more than $60 billion to create new jobs and new state revenues.

He indexed California's personal income tax and created solar and
energy conservation credits.

He eliminated the capital gains tax on small business investments.



Jerry Brown on Education
=====================

Both as Governor of California and as a Trustee of the Los Angeles
Community College District, Jerry Brown has demonstrated a solid
commitment to education, understanding that in order for our country
to remain competitive, education must be a priority:

K-12:

As Governor, he more than tripled the state's K-12 educational budget
from $2.6 billion to $7.9 billion.

By working with the legislature he ensured that by 1982, 96% of the
school districts were spending the same per student (within $100 of
each other).

He tightened requirements for graduation from high school.

He signed legislation giving local school teachers and administrators
more control over the educational curriculum at their schools,
providing an educational approach which is best suited to the locality.

He signed legislation establishing the California Mathematics Project
which developed and supported programs to enhance math education.

He placed nearly $10 million in the state budget to fund the training
of teachers in such areas as mathematics and computer science, and
gave tax credits to companies donating computers to schools.

He guided legislation which provided state funding for on-the-job training.

He signed legislation providing special assistance to non-English
speaking students and tripled funds for students with special
educational needs.

He signed legislation to provide at least one meal per day to
underprivileged students kindergarten through twelfth grade.

COLLEGES and UNIVERSITIES

During his administration, funding for state universities and
community colleges nearly doubled and funding for equal opportunity
programs nearly tripled.

He opposed charging tuition at the state colleges and universities,
and tried to minimize increases in tuition while increasing funding
for student aid by more than $50 million.

He initiated special programs and centers of excellence such as the
California Space Institute, the Microelectronics Research Facility and
the Institute for Global Security and Cooperation, among many others.



Jerry Brown on Equal Opportunity
================================

Jerry Brown's record on equal opportunity is unmatched in the history
of California, and possibly the history of the United States.

He strongly supported a woman's right to choice, and continues to support it.

He extended child care and unemployment disability benefits to all
working women.

He authorized spending $10 million to develop innovative child-care programs.

He granted state employees one year leave for pregnancy, childbirth
and recovery.

He mandated that pregnant women should not be discriminated against in hiring.

He gave state district attorneys greater power to enforce court orders
for child support.

He supported equal pay for equal work - banning wage discrimination.

He signed legislation to promote training of women for non-traditional
jobs, that is, jobs where the employees were 70% male; he appointed
women to head the prison and highway departments in California.

He signed a law forbidding denial of credit because of sex or marital
status; amended the Fair Housing Act to prevent such discrimination;
he forbade the use of public funds to provide facilities and programs
for one sex only.

He amended state discrimination laws to include age, and banned
mandatory retirement for public and private employees.

He designated sexual harassment as an unfair employment practice.

He appointed to government positions (including the first Hispanic and
African American State Supreme Court Justices):

     287        Asians
     435        African-Americans
     549        Hispanics
      46        Native Americans

 He named women to nearly one-third of the state's posts:

     131        Judges
       5        Cabinet Members
       2        Department Directors
      10       Deputy Directors



Jerry Brown on Energy
==================

As Governor of California, Jerry Brown confronted the Oil Embargo's
impact on the U.S. and California's economy. He developed a
conservation and alternative energy program for his state. Jerry
Brown's foresight and conviction led to the most advanced and
comprehensive energy program in the U.S. which continues to serve as a
model a dozen years later.

He instituted the nations first mandatory energy efficiency standards
for buildings and appliances - saving consumers hundreds of millions
of dollars yearly.

He provided a 40% tax credit for installation of insulation and other
conservation measures.

His conservation programs were so successful that while the state's
economic output doubled, energy consumption increased by only 10%.

He established a three-year, $360 million program for mass transit.

He sponsored and signed legislation appropriating $20 million for
energy conservation projects in schools, hospitals and community agencies.

His State Energy Commission which developed alternative sources of
energy should save the people of California over $1 billion by the year 2000.

He established the nation's first Nuclear Safeguard Laws, banning
construction of nuclear power facilities until safety and waste
storage problems are resolved.

He enacted a 55% solar energy tax credit - the nation's largest and
most flexible.

He enacted solar rights legislation which removed local zoning and
contractual restrictions on solar installations.

He supported the installation of hydroelectric generation facilities
on existing flood control or water storage dams.

He expedited licensing procedures for geothermal projects.

He provided incentives for industry to develop cogeneration.

He enacted legislation to establish a wind energy information center
to disseminate information about wind energy to potential users.

He created the Alternative Transportation Fuels Program to
commercialize production and use of fuels such as ethanol and methanol.

He appropriated over $20 million for alcohol and biomass fuel development.



Jerry Brown on the Environment
===========================

As Governor, Jerry Brown fought hard and successfully to protect and
preserve the environment. He worked on three areas: pollution control,
conservation, and public lands and wilderness.


POLLUTION CONTROL

He imposed a moratorium on nuclear power plants until safety and waste
storage problems are resolved.

He adopted the toughest anti-smog laws in the country,with programs
for improving air quality. Result: Pollution dropped by almost 50%
even though vehicle traffic increased by 20%.

He implemented a strong enforcement program to control hazardous
materials; he signed laws mandating that carcinogens in the workplace
be identified, and people affected be informed.

He established programs to regulate the use of pesticides; to restrict
releasing of carcinogens into the air; and banned the manufacture and
sale of fluorocarbons for aerosol propellents.

He ordered ongoing inspections of landfills as well as periodic checks
for toxins in California waterways.

He enacted laws for tough new civil and criminal penalties for illegal
toxic waste dumping, as well as establishing emergency response
systems for toxic chemical spills; and instituted recycling programs
for paper and used motor oil, saving tens of millions of dollars.


CONSERVATION

Foreseeing the energy problems the nation faced, he began the
conversion of state vehicles to methanol and ethanol fuels, creating
the largest test vehicle fleet in the nation.

He introduced a 20-year plan to channel money from the state's oil,
geothermal and state forest revenues into increasing the productivity
of renewable natural resources.

He formed the State Energy Commission which developed diversified
alternative sources of energy. Such programs should save the people of
California over $1 billion by the year 2000.

He supported the development of wind energy as a renewable energy
source in the state.

He signed into law the 40% conservation tax credit. This was so
effective that while production doubled, energy use rose only 10%.


PUBLIC LANDS AND WILDERNESS

He established the Coastal Conservancy, to protect the scenic and
ecological riches of the California coast for its people.

He established the California Conservation Corps, in which more than
50,000 young people have, to date, worked on environmental and
conservation projects. Most recently, members of the CCC worked to
prevent soil-erosion on Oakland-Berkeley areas burned out in the firestorm.

He used money from the Energy Resources fund to reforest timberlands,
stock rivers, preserve wetlands (again being threatened under Bush
policies), promoted soil and water conservation, and developed
recreation and open space in urban areas.

He had major stretches of 5 of California's wild rivers made part of
the Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers system, assuring their
preservation. He implemented special programs to improve the quality
of California's rivers; and developed a statewide policy to protect
the state's remaining wetlands.

He added more than 700 000 acres to the State Park System, and had
more than 500,000 more classified as "wilderness," to insure their
preservation; he acquired almost 17,000 additional acres as habitat
for endangered species and other wildlife, appropriating $2.5 million
for this purpose.

He barred the Forest Service from building roads in large areas of the
wilderness. Such roads would have facilitated access to public forests
by private loggers.



Jerry Brown on Health Care
==========================

As Governor, Jerry Brown made health care for all a priority. His
programs focussed on prevention, outreach to underserved populations,
and cost containment.

He created the Governor's Council on Wellness and Physical Fitness,
emphasizing prevention of disease and maintenance of health. To this
end his programs increased the number of family physicians, primary
care nurse practitioners and physicians' assistants.

He sponsored legislation for RNs to practice as midwives and public
health professionals and set up an apprenticeship program so that
nurses who were LVNs could become RNs.

He greatly expanded family planning and prenatal health programs and
established programs to provide services in nutrition and health care
to high-risk mothers and their infants.

He increased funding for the Rural Health Care Program to provide
services to areas which did not have access to them.

He created a Farm Workers Health Services Program, to increase
services to migrant farm workers and their families.

He signed legislation which provided financial help for urban and
rural health care programs for Native Americans.

He established a toxic waste "superfund" to compensate workers
suffering from the effects of toxic chemicals.

He created a Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse to help free people
from substance abuse and oversaw the establishment of a state
education program to stop drunk driving.

He instituted a $25,000 tax deduction for anyone who remodeled a home
or business to make it accessible to the handicapped, oversaw the
creation of more than 25 community based living centers for disabled
Californians and gave protection to workers who needed special devices.

He developed programs to help establish community mental health
treatment centers.

He signed the Robinson Act into law, providing for negotiation between
providers and consumers, lowering costs.

Many of the recommendations of his Special Committee on Health Care
(cost containment) were written into law. And he included acupuncture,
chiropractic and podiatry services for reimbursement.



Jerry Brown on Investing in People
============================

"If we think clearly and correctly, we can make the tools to lift
millions out of poverty and ignorance and we can pioneer the new
technologies that emphasize quality over quantity."

Jerry Brown, January 7,1982, State of the State address

As Governor, Jerry Brown worked with the legislature and leaders of
industry, labor and education to initiate programs to lead California
into the information age. Among these:

Creating the California Commission on Industrial Innovation, which
formulated an economic blueprint for the rest of the century. The
commission provided 50 specific proposals for educational excellence,
renewed productivity and improved competitiveness.

Calling for higher standards in high schools, requiring 3 years of
math and 2 years of science for all high school graduates, with even
more stringent requirements for the college bound. This led the
California State and University systems to raise their entrance
requirements in math.

Providing almost $10 million to upgrade math and science education, by
training teachers and establishing centers for computer education in
the 1982-83 budget.

Allocating funds to motivate and support women and minority students
earning degrees in math, engineering and the sciences.

Placing tens of thousands of workers through the California Worksite
Education and Training Act in skilled labor positions. More than 2,500
employers were involved in the program which is widely recognized as
one of the most successful in the nation.

Investing more than $2 millions in community colleges for employment
based high technology training. 27 campuses have implemented such
programs, emphasizing new and emerging technologies.

Funding microelectronic research laboratories and equipment in
California universities.

Retraining for workers displaced by new technologies: more than 20
Displaced Workers Reemployment Centers around the state have received
support from business and labor groups such as General Motors and the UAW.

Assisting welfare applicants to find jobs through the Employment
Preparation Program.

Using money from the state Unemployment Insurance fund to prepare
workers for growth industry jobs, and emphasizing employer commitment
to hire successful trainees.



Jerry Brown on Seniors
===================

As a staunch supporter of equal rights for all people, Governor Jerry
Brown worked to protect the rights of the elderly:

He banned mandatory retirement for public and private employees.

He created a state funded program of preventive health services for
people over 60.

He allowed senior citizens to completely defer their property taxes
until home ownership changed hands, and exempted all property
transferred to a surviving spouse from inheritance and gift taxes.

He provided for tuition-free classes at California state universities
for persons over 60, for both credit and audit.

He made discrimination on the basis of age illegal in all state-funded
programs or grants and contracts involving more than $100,000 of state funds.

He created Multipurpose Senior Service Project pilot programs to
provide information on care and resources to allow people to stay at
home rather than be placed in institutions.

He established the Golden State Seniors Discount program, with
participating merchants throughout the state.



Jerry Brown on Social Issues
============================

As Governor, Jerry Brown improved the delivery of social services,
particularly those affecting children:

He implemented Project Intercept which has collected literally
millions of dollars in child support payments.

He supported and signed legislation requiring that the Adoptions
Assistance program provide benefits to eligible hard-to-place children
who would not be adopted without this assistance. In cooperation with
the Urban League, his Department of Social Services made dramatic
improvements in placing minority-group children in adoptive homes.

He supported and signed legislation requiring agencies to provide
written assessment, a case plan, and help in reuniting children in
their care with their families, and insuring administrative and court
review on a regular schedule, so that no child would be lost in the system.

He initiated the Employment Preparation Program to provide job search
assistance to welfare applicants. He established the Cooperative
Agency's Resources for Education program which assisted families in
moving off welfare to self-support. The program saves the state more
than $70,000 per family, and is so successful that New York City,
among others, expressed interest in setting up a similar program.

He initiated a Quality Control/Corrective Action program, which helped
to cut the number of errors in the Aid to Families with Dependent
Children offices in half.


These programs were in addition to many listed in other sections,
aimed at improving the health and care of children within the family
structure, as well as their education.



Jerry Brown on Transportation
=========================

As Governor, Jerry Brown recognized the importance of transportation
policy to future development.

Van and car pooling (e.g., carpool lanes on bridges and highways) led
to saving 79 million gallons of gasoline and cutting air pollution by
45,000 tons of emissions; and the number of miles of carpool lanes has
continued to grow.

During his terms, mass transit ridership increased by more than 90%,
to 1.2 billion riders. He signed an Omnibus Mass Transportation Bill,
providing $368 million for mass transit facilities. Funding for
intermodal facilities (where 2 or more modes of transit come together)
increased the convenience, and thus the use of mass transit. He signed
laws authorizing several railway projects, including the McCloud River
Railroad and rail service between San Diego and Los Angeles.

He oversaw the completion of approximately 1500 lane miles of new
freeway, at a cost of $1.1 billion.



Jerry Brown on Women's Issues
=============================

Jerry Brown has a strong commitment to protecting women's rights. A
vigorous supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment, as Governor,

Brown strongly supported - and continues to support - a woman's right
to choice.

Brown named women to fill nearly one-third of appointed state
positions. These included 121 judges, 5 cabinet members, 22 department
heads (including non traditional posts like Highways and Prisons) and
10 deputy directors.

Brown required equal pay for equal work, for jobs requiring equal
skills, effort and responsibilities performed under equivalent working
conditions.

Brown forbade the use of public funds to provide facilities and
programs for one sex only; as much as possible, equal opportunities
for male and female athletes should be provided by state colleges and
universities.

Brown designated sexual harassment as an unfair employment practice.

Brown amended the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination based on
sex or marital status; he signed legislation prohibiting the denial of
credit based on sex or marital status.

Brown encouraged women's entry into non-traditional jobs by signing
legislation requiring government organizations to train women for jobs
in which 70% of the employees were men.


ON FAMILY ISSUES

Brown mandated that pregnant women not be discriminated against in
hiring, based on their pregnancy, and extended child care and
unemployment disability benefits to all working women.

He gave state District Attorneys greater power to enforce court orders
for child support payments, and strengthened the rights of recipients
of child support..

Brown augmented child care programs by $12 million annually; he
authorized $10 million for the development of innovative child care programs.


ON CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN

Brown strongly supported tougher penalties for crimes against women.
He signed legislation which:

PROVIDES on call staff at all times in county hospitals to examine
victims of rape or other sexual assaults.

PROHIBITS granting of probation in cases of rape by force or violence.

EXTENDS the statute of limitations for prosecution of sexual assault
cases from 3 to 6 years.

ALLOWS injunctive relief in order to prevent acts of domestic
violence, and PERMITS a spouse to be prosecuted for rape.

ESTABLISHES court procedures ["rape shield" laws] to protect victims of rape.

ESTABLISHES a one-year minimum prison sentence for people convicted of
pimping or pandering.

STRENGTHENS the rights of recipients of child support.



Jerry Brown on Workers' Rights
==============================

As Governor, Jerry Brown set standards for reforms which, if adopted
nationally, would improve the lives of millions of working men and women.

THE RIGHT TO A SAFE WORKPLACE

Funded a pioneering program to inform workers and industry and
government officials to hazards of toxic chemicals in the workplace.

Extended criminal sanctions to the occupational health field and
protected whistle blowers who reported health and safety hazards.

Made California the first state to require the registration of
carcinogens, when he signed the Occupational Carcinogen Control Act.

Required the collection of information about toxic substances and its
dissemination to impacted groups.


JOB AND JOBLESS PROTECTION

Increased the minimum wage above the federal minimum.

Strengthened and vigorously enforced the state child labor laws.

Initiated the first "Work Sharing Unemployment Insurance" program as
an alternative to lay-offs.

Increased maximum unemployment benefits for workers to 75% of wages,
allowing them to care for their families while looking for work.

Extended unemployment benefits to farm workers, government employees,
public school and non-profit school employees, and domestics. Extended
unemployment/disability benefits to pregnant women and strikers.

Increased benefits for workers disabled on the job, and included tips
as wages in computing benefits; minimum and maximum benefits increased
by more than 25%; death benefits increased by 500%, the largest
increases in temporary disability benefits in the history of workers'
compensation.

Set up a special program to make exploiting illegal immigrant workers
no longer profitable.

Banned homework in the garment industry.

Increased vocational training in school and on the job, and increased
women's and minorities' participation.

Set up a task force to prosecute employers who cashed out workers,
short-changed trust funds, and evaded taxes.

Established prevailing rates for public workers.

Prohibited forced retirement of workers, or discrimination in hiring
based on sexual preference or pregnancy.

Penalized firms which illegally failed to insure workers against
job-related injuries, or who broke child labor laws or withheld wages.

Created the Department of Economic and Business Development to
stimulate job growth.

Implemented job training programs, which tripled in five years and
included health and vocational apprenticeships.


UNION RIGHTS

His Agricultural Labor Relations Act, in 1975, gave the farm workers
the right to organize, and have collective bargaining. These rights
were later extended to public employees, to public school teachers,
and to employees of the state university and college systems.

He signed legislation prohibiting the hiring of professional
strikebreakers and curbing the use of the injunction in labor disputes
(1975); he broadened protections against unfair labor practices.

Despite the serious recession in the late 1970's, California, under
Jerry Brown's leadership, saw its job market expand faster than any
other industrial state's, and 70% faster than the rest of the nation.
More than 2.2 million jobs were created in California during his tenure.


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