California Budget in Decent Shape, but Jerry Brown Missed Vast Opportunities: New at Reason

California’s governor often talks about fiscal frugality, responsibility and reform, but there isn’t much follow-up action.

Steven Greenhut writes:

Chalk it up to a sort of political guilty pleasure. But even though my libertarian political views are vastly different from those of Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown, I’ve always enjoyed his philosophical ramblings and musings. He’s certainly more entertaining to write about than any other California politician in memory.

There was that time at a press conference when a reporter asked him why he was cutting spending on some social program. “Because that’s where the money is,” he retorted (or something close to that). It was funny and refreshing—and typical Brown. At times he sounds like a fundamentalist preacher warning about the end of the world, but it’s all part of that Moonbeam charm.

However, after introducing his 16th budget last week, I’m left with that same nagging feeling that’s dogged me throughout his two recent terms. It’s known as disappointment. Brown surely knows about the depth of the state’s fiscal problems—and the fact that our public services cost far more and deliver far less than those in other states. Why hasn’t he done more?

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