New Governor, New Style

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The hard-working Deukmejian, who spent 16 years in the state legislature and four as state attorney general, promptly tackled the deficit by clamping a lid on all hiring of new state employees, banning out-of-state travel by state officials and ordering a 2% cut in operating funds that will mostly affect the state university system and state colleges. This will save only some $70 million, however, and Deukmejian almost certainly will have to raise taxes to balance the budget, as required by the state constitution. That will be politically awkward, since he campaigned on a pledge to fight tax increases.

The Governor's budget proposals to be announced this week were expected to avoid any tax hike and to close the deficit partly by borrowing $700 million from next year's budget—a delaying tactic that the Democratic-controlled legislature seems likely to reject. If there are to be new taxes, Deukmejian seems determined to force the Democrats to propose them.

Other campaign promises also will be difficult for Deukmejian to keep. He emphasized new efforts to combat crime, which will cost money. A champion of law-and-order, Deukmejian, as a member of the state legislature, helped restore the death penalty, although his bill to permit execution for armed robbery did not pass. He complained that Brown had appointed too many "liberal" judges who failed to "protect the rights of victims as well as protecting the rights of the accused." But in his last hours in office, Brown appointed 52 judges, a record number for a single day, prompting Deukmejian to concede that he will not have much chance to name new ones.

Deukmejian has also vowed to repeal some measures designed to protect consumers and the environment, contending that they retard business growth. But the legislature will oppose such plans. Another big problem for Deukmejian: five of the six elected officials in his administration are Democrats.

As he left office, an uncommonly exuberant Brown entertained 50 of his longtime aides at a cocktail lounge near the capitol. He embraced Pop Singer Linda Ronstadt, whom he has dated periodically for six years. Brown intimates say that the relationship is on again and that a spring wedding is even possible. Brown will say only that he intends to retreat to his Laurel Canyon home in Los Angeles, learn to operate the Apple III computer given him by his staff, do some writing and read books. Brown does not hesitate to admit that he still has political ambitions, declaring all too accurately: "I feel ready to go, but there's no calling."

—By Ed Magnuson. Reported by Benjamin W. Cate/Los Angeles and Alessandra Stanley/Sacramento