Former actor and bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger has been sworn in as the new governor of California.
In a ceremony before about 7,500 invited guests, including four past California governors, Hollywood celebrities and foreign dignitaries, Mr Schwarzenegger assumed office as head of the US's most populous state.
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Mr Arnold Schwarzenegger is sworn in as Governor of California
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Facing Mr Schwarzenegger are steep economic problems including a projected budget deficit of potentially more than $20 billion over the next two years.
He has also vowed to immediately rescind an unpopular car tax that his predecessor, Democratic Governor Gray Davis, used to raise more than $4 billion.
Many were waiting to see if one of Mr Schwarzenegger's first steps as governor would be to ask the state Legislature to approve a referendum on a massive borrowing program to cover the projected deficit and tie the state to tough spending limits.
The action hero of the Terminatormovie series won the October election against a field of more than 130 candidates after campaigning to cut waste, sweep out special interests and keep taxes down. He has said he will put his acting career on hold while serving as governor.