Arnold Schwarzenegger was sworn in as the 38th Governor of California on November 17, 2003. His landslide election as the state’s chief executive follows a distinguished career in business and entertainment.
Governor Schwarzenegger’s top priority is fulfilling his mandate from Californians to bring jobs back to the state and restore its prosperity. Upon taking office, he inherited an unprecedented fiscal crisis. He averted bankruptcy with measures that refinanced old debt and required the state to live within its means without raising taxes. Schwarzenegger’s workers’ compensation reform package repaired a system that had the highest costs in the nation and his Indian Gaming Compacts secured California’s fair share of billions of dollars in revenue. In 2004, he signed legislation to prevent "shakedown" lawsuits which were driving jobs and businesses out of California and blocking its path to recovery.
Governor Schwarzenegger’s firm belief that economic prosperity and environmental health go hand in hand was evident during his first year in office. His Oceans Action Plan will set a national standard for the management of ocean and coastal resources. He created California’s Hydrogen Highway by Executive Order to support the transition to a clean hydrogen transportation economy. The Governor also signed historic legislation creating the 25-million acre Sierra Nevada Conservancy, California’s largest.
Throughout his career, he has had a strong commitment to children. Before becoming governor, Schwarzenegger founded the Inner City Games Foundation and pushed for more funding for after school programs. He championed the After School Education and Safety Act of 2002 (Proposition 49), overwhelmingly approved by voters. As governor, he is taking action to give California’s children the quality education and opportunities they deserve. His settlement of the landmark Williams vs. California lawsuit contained reforms that ensure qualified teachers for every student and clean and safe school facilities with up-to-date textbooks. He has increased per pupil spending and education funding and worked hard to give local schools the power to meet the specific needs of their own communities.
Governor Schwarzenegger and his wife Maria Shriver have four children - Katherine, Christina, Patrick and Christopher.