Jerry Brown to begin historic fourth term in Capitol

When Jerry Brown takes the oath of office on Monday morning, it will be the fourth time he’s recited the same 84 words.

Brown is the only governor in California history to be elected four times, and he will be the last unless voters undo the term limits they embedded in the state Constitution.

On the night he was reelected, Brown told reporters that winning another term felt “pretty neat, actually,” and he would soon be back at the Capitol “figuring out what the hell you do in a fourth term.”

Now he’s expected to outline new details about his plans. After being sworn into office, Brown will deliver a speech to both houses of the Legislature, which will serve as his inaugural address and state of the state speech.

The governor has expressed interest in new pollution restrictions, expanding efforts to combat climate change and finding ways to continue stabilizing California’s notoriously unpredictable finances.

Brown has also pushed forward with the $68-billion bullet train project, which was approved by voters before he returned to the governor’s office in 2011, but has suffered declining popularity and uncertain funding.

Brown will be in Fresno on Tuesday for a groundbreaking ceremony as construction begins in earnest on the first segment of the rail line, stretching 29 miles north to Madera.

On Friday, Brown is scheduled to unveil a new budget proposal. California’s finances have rebounded with the help of an improving economy, but there are still major, unresolved problems left.

One of those is the rising cost of healthcare for retired state employees, which is $71.8-billion more than has been set aside. Brown is expected to include a plan to address the issue in his budget proposal.

Follow @chrismegerian for more updates from Sacramento.