page_title: Pat Brown
section_title: Tax increase
hierarchical_section_title: Pat Brown / First term as governor 1959-1963 / Tax increase
caption_attribution_description: English: Map of the w:California State Water Project (SWP). Blue squares: existing SWP reservoirs Red lines: existing SWP canals, tunnels and aqueducts Blue lines: rivers and natural waterways Dark blue squares: SWP reservoirs shared with w:Central Valley Project Light gray squares and lines: Unbuilt reservoirs and canals originally planned under SWP Green squares and lines: Non-SWP distribution infrastructure supplied by SWP water
context_page_description: Edmund Gerald "Pat" Brown Sr. was an American politician and lawyer who served as the 32nd Governor of California from 1959 to 1967. Born in San Francisco, Brown had an early interest in speaking and politics. He skipped college and he earned a LL.B. law degree in 1927. His first elected office was as district attorney for San Francisco, he was elected attorney general of California in 1950 before becoming the state's governor in 1959.
  In his first term as governor Brown delivered on a series of major legislation including a tax increase, and a master plan for expanded higher education, The California State Water Project was a major and highly complex achievement, He also pushed through civil rights legislation. In a second term, however, troubles mounted including the defeat of a fair housing law, angry student demonstrations at Berkeley, a massive riot in the black neighborhood of Watts in Los Angeles, and ferocious internal battles among Democrats over support or opposition to the war in Vietnam. He lost his bid for a third term in 1966 to future President Ronald Reagan, but his legacy has since earned him regard as the builder of modern California. His son Edmund G.
context_section_description: Brown wanted to expand state services but first had to end the deficit and obtain enough revenue for his ambitious plans. Tax increases were headed by the personal income tax, where the top rate went from 6% to 7%, with new exemptions for the poor. There was a major increase in the profits taxes paid by banks and corporations, a tax on cigarettes, beer, and betting, as well as a highly controversial severance tax on oil and natural gas. A few compromises were made but Brown got his money for expansion, while also getting the reputation as a high tax politician. He set up a Fair Employment Practices Commission that helped blacks break through the informal barriers that it kept them out of white collar positions. Numerous other reforms were passed, largely thanks to cooperation with the Democratic leaders in the state legislature, including George Miller Jr. in the Senate, and Bill Munnell and Jesse Unruh  in the assembly.
caption: Map of the State Water Project infrastructure
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