Arnold Schwarzenegger

Governor Schwarzenegger created the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, pairing environmental protection and economic growth for the region. This 25-million-acre protected area from the Oregon border to Kern County is California’s largest conservancy. It benefits communities by providing grants to local governments for environmental protection, resource conservation, recreational opportunities, and economic growth. Read more

Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act, making California the first state in the nation to cap greenhouse gas emissions and establishing California as a worldwide leader in addressing climate change. The law codified the Governor’s reduction goals: 1990 levels by 2020 and a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gases. Read more

The Governor introduced a new spending limit, the Budget Stabilization Act. This measure established a Revenue Stabilization Fund (RSF), a savings account into which the state would be required to deposit annual excess revenues. Such automatic savings would ensure that California does not again fall into the trap of spending all its revenues in prosperous times. Read more

As part of the 2010 budget agreement, the Governor signed into law historic across-the-board pension reform. The budget agreement made significant changes to pensions for all new state employees, finally slowing the massive $500 billion debt the state was piling up Read more

The Governor successfully led the effort to pass an Open Primary ballot initiative to elect more moderate candidates to office who would not be beholden to the parties and special interests. Proposition 14, approved by voters despite opposition from both parties, required candidates for statewide elections to run in a single primary that is open to all voters. The top two finishers, regardless of party, advance to a general election runoff. Read more

The Governor signed ABX2 7 and SBX2 7, which established The California Foreclosure Prevention Act. The Act modifies the foreclosure process to give borrowers more time to work out loan modifications, while providing an exemption for mortgage loan servicers who have implemented a comprehensive loan modification program. Read more

In the seven years of his administration, Governor Schwarzenegger’s reform policies have saved taxpayers more than $14 billion—even taking into account the temporary revenue measures enacted to address the budget deficits resulting from the worst recession since the 1930s. Read more

Governor Schwarzenegger reformed workers’ compensation, which has saved employers more than $70 billion to date and reduced rates by nearly 65 percent. In 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed legislation that would have undermined the bipartisan workers’ compensation reforms passed by the legislature in 2004. Read more

Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 1844, known as Chelsea’s Law, which enacted a one-strike, life-without-parole sentencing option for the most dangerous sexual offenders; increased sentences for forcible sex crimes; increased parole terms, including lifetime parole, for those who target children under the age of fourteen; restricted sex offenders from entering parks; required that sex offenders’ risk assessment scores be made public through the Megan’s Law website. Read more

Building on his commitment to strengthen employment, economic opportunities, and services for California’s veterans and their families, Governor Schwarzenegger launched Operation Welcome Home, a first-in-the-nation, statewide campaign to connect every returning veteran with the services to transition successfully from the battlefront to the home front. Read more

Governor Schwarzenegger established the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Fire Commission. In April 2004, the Commission issued 48 recommendations for improving emergency preparedness to prevent and respond to California wildfires. Governor Schwarzenegger then established the Blue Ribbon Task Force to ensure these recommendations are implemented. Read more

Governor Schwarzenegger launched a historic six-day trade mission to China to promote California’s high-quality products and services to the world’s fastest-growing economy, encourage Chinese investment in the Golden State and raise awareness of important intellectual property rights issues. He and a delegation of 75 California employers promoted California agriculture and encouraged consumers and businesses to purchase California-grown produce and products. Read more

More than 41 percent of all Governor Schwarzenegger’s appointments were highly qualified women—a higher percentage than any governor in history, including cabinet-level appointees: chief of staff, legal affairs secretary, judicial appointments secretary, labor secretary, health and human services secretary, and director of finance. Read more

Signing six key bills, the Governor put fundamental foster youth protections in place. These included giving foster youth: twelve months of food stamps after they turn eighteen; priority for on-campus housing with California colleges and universities; and an alternative to traditional adoption for Native American children in the foster care system. Read more

Governor Schwarzenegger made California the first state in the nation to implement health care reform by signing legislation to create the California Health Benefit Exchange. AB 1602 and SB 900 established an insurance exchange that will help California consumers and small businesses shop for affordable health insurance starting in 2014. Governor Schwarzenegger also signed a number of bills implementing provisions of federal health care reform. Read more

Under Governor Schwarzenegger’s leadership, the State Board of Education adopted the first-ever physical fitness standards for California schools; and in the Governor’s subsequent budgets, he provided unprecedented funding for school PE teachers, equipment, and supplies. Read more

In his 2004 State of the State address, Governor Schwarzenegger established a bold roadmap for the future of public education, committing to the goals of expanding charter and career technical schools, providing funding flexibility to public schools, and ensuring that every classroom has an effective teacher. Read more