Gov. Jerry Brown loses 'invincible' image in climate change, tax battles

The San Jose Mercury News reports:

For the first 4½ years of his administration, Gov. Jerry Brown seemed politically invincible, but in just one day in this final week of the legislative session he saw key parts of his 2015 agenda collapse.

Republicans refused to raise gasoline taxes that Brown says are desperately needed to fix California's crumbling roads and bridges, and the oil industry won an ugly skirmish over the Golden State's landmark climate-change bill that would have cut oil consumption in half by 2030.

The surprising turn of events resonated around the Capitol on Thursday, prompting questions about the wisdom of Brown's heralded strategy as a leader often more comfortable pulling levers behind-the-scenes to encourage political compromise between lawmakers, rather than marketing issues himself around the state.

The great moments of Blue America!