Jan Brewer is sworn as governor by Chief Justice Ruth McGregor.

A day after taking the oath of office, Arizona’s new governor ordered an internal review of policies enacted under former Gov. Janet Napolitano, an indication that changes are coming that will affect how the Ninth Floor operates.
In the meantime, Brewer has instructed state agencies to immediately stop submitting proposed rules and regulations in order to allow staff to conduct the policy review.
Brewer’s action was described as a freeze on “new regulatory burdens,” a description consistent with the tone of her Jan. 21 inauguration speech, which called for a boosting the state’s depressed economy with low taxes and fewer restrictions on businesses.
The call for a temporary rule-making cessation marks Brewer’s first official action as governor, but she had made it clear in her inauguration speech a day earlier that it won’t be business as usual at the Governor’s Office. 
In front of an estimated 1,500 people gathered on the Capitol lawn, Brewer said she was a gardener at heart, explaining that the hobby has taught her “pruning from time to time leads to greater fruit.”
And the fiscal health of the state is no different, Brewer said.
Before introducing her plans to improve the state’s declining economy, Brewer took a dig at Napolitano, who left the state burdened with “overdue obligations.”
“In some ways this feels like you’ve just shown up for a party,” Brewer said in her first address as governor, “but the guests have all gone, only the caterer is left and she immediately hands you the bill.”
It likely came as no surprise to those attending the inauguration that Brewer’s speech focused on the state’s ever-growing budget deficit, a deficit that puts the state roughly $4 billion short, Brewer said.
White chairs and red carpets filled the mall between the state House of Representatives and Senate buildings as lawmakers and citizens gathered to witness Brewer’s swearing-in ceremony. As the light tones of violins playing a Mozart symphony over a stereo system faded to snare drums and commanding trumpets, invited guests wore red “Jan Brewer” buttons and waved signs.
After the ceremony, many legislative Republicans were optimistic about Brewer’s approach to the budget crisis.
“I think this is clearly going to be a bright, new beginning for Arizona and fiscal responsibility for citizens,” said Rep. John Kavanagh, chairman of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.
Republican Rep. David Stevens of Sierra Vista said the Governor’s Office, the Senate and the House of Representatives would be able to “get the right things done,” now that all three are controlled by Republicans.
“We’re looking to get a good conservative budget through and get the state back on the right path,” Stevens said.
But what might come as a surprise to some bystanders is the deficit-solution Brewer presented in her speech. Cutting the budget, she said, is not as important as the return of economic prosperity.
“It is important to remember that we cannot budget our way to prosperity” Brewer said. “Our first calling at this Capitol is to generate capital — to call forth the creativity, determination and entrepreneurial spirit that made these United States the most prosperous great power in the history of the world.”
During her speech, Brewer revealed plans for a “massive stimulus package of our own,” to encourage economic prosperity. But her package can’t be deposited in bank accounts or used to buy groceries.  
Brewer instead hopes to stimulate the people of Arizona by building freedom — which she called “our fundamental value, our lodestar and our true north.”
“We must make our people free,” Brewer said. “Freedom to work and earn a living, to build a business, to build a life.”
Freeing citizens and business owners from taxes and regulatory burdens will set Arizona apart from neighboring states and encourage the expansion of entrepreneurial ventures in the state, Brewer said.  
“We must make sure that beleaguered businesses in California and other such overtaxed places hear the music of our commerce and our culture and see brighter prospects in cities and towns across Arizona,” she said.
That portion of the speech was a big hit with conservative Republicans, who are hopeful that Brewer will support low taxes and a business-friendly climate in Arizona.
“I thought it was very unique that she focused on freedom. I’ve said for a long time that we kind of lost that element within government, taking away people’s freedoms constantly in either over-regulating, excessive taxes, and it suppresses freedom in the human spirit when we do that,” said Sen. Sylvia Allen, a Republican from Snowflake. “I was really excited to hear what she said.”
Rep. Carl Seel, a Phoenix Republican, said he liked what she said about encouraging people to be productive without government intervention.
“She said clearly we’re that going to have to reduce the size of government, and you saw what a rousing response the public gave to that,” he said, referring to the loud applause Brewer received when she said the size of Arizona’s government had gotten too big, and must be reduced.
Brewer’s speech did not touch on social conservative issues, but many were hopeful that the change in administration on the Ninth Floor would bring a different attitude on issues such illegal immigration, school choice and abortion.
“The stance on immigration we have had in the past has been pretty minimal,” said Rep. Stevens. “Brewer will do the right things.”
Sen. Ron Gould, a Republican from Lake Havasu City, and Rep. Warde Nichols, of Gilbert, both looked forward to a governor with a different view on right-to-life issues.
“My expectations are based off of her public service up to this point. I think our incoming governor is going to hopefully sign some bills that we sent up to the previous governor that were probably vetoed dealing with partial birth abortion and some of those different social conservative issues,” Nichols said. “I think that the social conservatives will ultimately have a friend on the Ninth Floor instead of a combatant, like our exiting governor was.”
Some Democrats were also optimistic after Brewer’s talk of bipartisanship in her speech.
“I’m looking forward to that,” said Sen. Manny Alvarez, an Elfrida Democrat.
“I think the Republican Party is going to be surprised in her positions, whatever decisions she makes. I think they think everything’s a rubber stamp for them now, but I don’t think so. I think she’s going to be in the middle, working both sides.”
Brewer speech concluded with a show of empathy toward struggling Arizonans, and certainty of the state’s recovery.
“I have come to know what, and worry, and the anxiety that touches so many people around our state today,” she said. “But I know with all certainty that we will make our stand, and soon we will be living out our finest days.
Though the inaugural ceremony was held on Jan. 21, Brewer had technically been governor for almost 24 hours by the time she took her oath of office in public. Napolitano’s letter of resignation was delivered to the
Secretary of State’s Office the previous afternoon, and was marked as officially submitted at 4:52 p.m.
Napolitano announced in early December that she would leave to join President Barack Obama’s Cabinet, but said she would not officially resign her position until she was confirmed as Homeland Security secretary by the U.S. Senate. The Senate Homeland Security Committee gave her a swift confirmation on Jan. 15, and Napolitano was given the full Senate’s stamp of approval on Jan. 20, along with several other Obama Cabinet nominees.
“It has been my honor to serve the people of Arizona as governor. I look forward to continuing to serve Arizona, our new president and all of the people of our great nation in my new role as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security,” Napolitano wrote to Brewer in her resignation letter.
In her acceptance letter, Brewer wrote back to Napolitano, “I want to congratulate you on your confirmation as the United States Department of Homeland Security secretary. Thank you for all of your years of public service to the state of Arizona. I wish you all the best.”
Brewer’s first official proclamation was issued on Jan. 23, declaring: “Arizona Cardinals Championship Week.”
— Reporter Christian Palmer contributed to this story.