Governor Arnie gets down to business
Arnold Schwarzenegger was sworn in as the 38th governor of California, completing a meteoric rise from bodybuilder and action hero to leader of the most populated US state in a historic recall election.
The 56-year-old Austrian immigrant took the oath of office on the steps of the Capitol yesterday before an audience of 7,500 dignitaries and supporters – as millions more around the world watched the event live on television.
Schwarzenegger’s wife, Maria Shriver, held the Bible while California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald George administered the oath.
“I am humbled, I am honoured and I am moved beyond words to be your governor,” Schwarzenegger said after being sworn in.
In a nod to his wife’s famous uncle, Schwarzenegger added: “In the words of President [John F] Kennedy, ‘I am an idealist without illusions’.”
Although he had no prior experience as an elected official, the Republican Schwarzenegger was swept into office in the October 7 election that ousted Democratic Governor Gray Davis, reviled by the voters for his handling of the state’s ailing economy.
The ceremony, while steeped in tradition, was devoid of the pageantry often associated with California inaugurations.
Bitterness over the divisive recall vote and the state’s financial troubles prompted Schwarzenegger to put a damper on livelier festivities – although plenty of celebrities and journalists were on hand.
Former Miss America Vanessa Williams, who appeared with Schwarzenegger in the 1996 film Eraser, sang the national anthem.
Fifteen dignitaries from 13 countries attended, including representatives from Canada, Egypt, Austria and Mexico.
The new governor was surrounded by his four children, who had remained out of public view during much of the recall campaign.
An immigrant who arrived in the United States at 21 barely able to speak English, Schwarzenegger is a quick study who impressed even some of his critics with his raw political skills.
Schwarzenegger faces a budget deficit that he put at more than €23bn – a business climate that some economists say is the nation’s worst – and a Democrat-dominated legislature that may not be in a co-operative mood.
“There’s a massive weight we must lift off our state. Alone, I cannot lift it. But together, we can,” he said.
He promptly made good on at least one campaign promise: He repealed the tripling of California’s car registration tax, which means the state must find an additional €4bn to make up for the lost revenue.
Schwarzenegger then called the legislature into special session to address the budget and further reform the workers’ compensation system. He has also promised a balanced budget that does not include any new taxes or significant cuts in education and local governments, and he wants to repeal a bill granting driving licences to undocumented immigrants.
In addition, Schwarzenegger says he wants the legislature to put a massive bond proposal before voters in March, in combination with a state spending cap aimed at preventing similar financial problems in the future – both items that politicians will need to act on before December 5. The session was due to begin today.
“I learned something from all those years of training and competing,” he said. “What I learned is that we are always stronger than we know. California is like that, too.”
As he was sworn in, Schwarzenegger was accompanied by four of the five living former governors of California, including Davis. Only Reagan, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, was not present.
