Brown isn't known for brandishing his veto pen. In his first two terms as governor, in the 1970's and 80s, he sent back less than five percent of the more than 11,406 bills that reached his desk. But it looks like his third term could be different. Brown has this warning for lawmakers:
Brown: "I think they'll be playing the veto blues."
He even repeated a line from one of his recent veto messages:
Brown: "Not every human problem needs a law. That's kind of my first principle that I'll be applying."
Brown has said he researches many of the laws himself before deciding whether to sign them. He often writes his own veto messages too.
Brown: "In the areas where I feel a particular interest, and if you think they have some flair to them, they may have been written by me."
Brown has until October 9th to act on the bills on his desk.
Number of bills signed and vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown in his first two terms:
(Data compiled by Peter Detwiler, Senate Government and Finance Committee)
1975 1,280 93 1,373 6.77
1976 1,487 127 1,614 7.87
1977 1,261 70 1,331 5.26
1978 1,432 49 1,481 3.31
1979 1,207 60 1,267 4.74
1980 1,381 64 1,445 4.43
1981 1,186 35 1,221 2.87
1982 1,644 30 1,674 1.79
Totals 10,878 528 11,406 4.63
