Governor Takes Oath, Urges Simple Tax Law

Republican Gov. George Deukmejian, urging simpler state tax laws and renewing his opposition to across-the-board tax hikes, today was sworn in for a second term by his former law partner, state Supreme Court Justice Malcolm Lucas.

Deukmejian in his inaugural address pledged to improve the state’s aging highways, “clean up every unsafe toxic waste site,” keep education a top budget priority and appoint “common sense judges” to replace the three high court justices ousted by California voters in November.

Lucas, the governor’s choice to succeed defeated Rose Elizabeth Bird as chief justice, swore in Deukmejian on the front steps of the festively decorated Capitol.

Inaugural Gala

The late-morning event, preceded Sunday night by a star-studded gala of Hollywood-style entertainment, marked the culmination of Deukmejian’s victory over Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley by a landslide 1.67 million votes in their Nov. 4 rematch.

Defeat of Bird and two other appointees of former Democratic Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr.--Justices Cruz Reynoso and Joseph Grodin--proved Californians want “to restore stature and credibility to the state Supreme Court,” said the governor, who vowed to appoint replacements with experience, fairness, integrity and intelligence.

Deukmejian said he wants to keep California competitive in trade markets, expand services for children and meet future employment needs of a swelling state population. But he also cautioned that Californians should not rely on Sacramento and Washington “to meet every need, tackle every problem.”

Reorganization Possible

He indicated a major reorganization of state services may be in the offing, triggered by the state’s emerging fiscal crunch. “We can save the taxpayers millions by breaking the unwarranted concentration of programs and power in Sacramento and returning more decision-making authority to local communities and school districts,” Deukmejian said.

The governor on Thursday will unveil his new, crimped state budget proposals for 1987-88 following a State of the State address Wednesday evening.

Deukmejian won his reelection partly on a platform citing his erasure of a $1.5-billion deficit that loomed when he took office in 1983, which he repeatedly said he had replaced with a $1-billion reserve. But six weeks after the election, his budget experts acknowledged the reserve had been virtually wiped out by revenue shortfalls and cost overruns, requiring a new round of cutbacks.

Other statewide officers who begin their second terms today in separate and less spectacular inaugural ceremonies are state schools chief Bill Honig, Atty. Gen. John Van de Kamp and Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy.

State Treasurer Jesse Unruh and Secretary of State March Fong Eu enter their fourth terms today. Former Assemblyman Gray Davis begins his first term as state controller.