re: #24 dragonath

I think it’s defined by his actions. If “conservative” has become too loaded a word, I need another that works. “Less liberal” just ain’t it. I happen to reject the idea of the Tea Party redefining the term.

It’s not really about closer to republicans it’s about closer to conservative actions and policies. Conservative as in carefully conserve the money in the budget.

Wiki
After taking office, Brown gained a reputation as a fiscal conservative.[10] The American Conservative later noted he was “much more of a fiscal conservative than Governor Reagan.”[11] His fiscal restraint resulted in one of the biggest budget surpluses in state history, roughly $5 billion.[12][13] For his personal life, Brown refused many of the privileges and perks of the office, forgoing the newly constructed governor’s residence and instead renting a modest apartment at the corner of 14th and N Streets, adjacent to Capitol Park in downtown Sacramento.[14] Instead of riding as a passenger in a chauffeured limousine as previous governors had done, Brown walked to work and drove in a Plymouth Satellite sedan.[15][16]

Look at the above and the current winning budget. It’s a good day for fiscal conservatism as a solution to the current economic situation. It’s a good day for California and a good day for Gov Jerry Brown. This is fiscal conservatism as in unattached to party, firmly attached to necessity.

But Foran said the Democrats with whom Brown is negotiating are different, too.

“The Democrats, particularly those that have gone through this horrible deficit every year, wanted - whether they say it outwardly, they want a situation in which they don’t have this terrible deficit every year to face,” Foran said. “So I think they probably are more pragmatic than they used to be.”

Democratic lawmakers said this week that they may revisit their call for additional spending at midyear if state revenues outpace Brown’s expectations. They will have little leverage, however, and Brown suggested he has little interest in such a reopening.

“In general,” Brown said Tuesday, “I think prudence rather than exuberance should be the order of the day.”

Brown is expected to run for re-election next year, and Democrats will be seeking to maintain their narrow supermajority in the Legislature. If revenue grows, as Democrats expect, having a budget surplus to point to could be politically appealing.

Read more here: fresnobee.com