For years, California's prison system has been one big complicated mess.  Two lawsuits led to federal courts taking control of the system's physical and mental health care - and later, a three-judge panel ordered the state to reduce the population of its overcrowded prisons.  The U.S. Supreme Court agreed with the panel.

Now, the governor says the prisons are under control.  He says the state has spent billions of dollars improving its prison health care - and his realignment program has reduced the number of inmates as much as possible without endangering the public.

Brown: "California is a powerful state.  We can run our own prisons.  And by God, let those judges give us our prisons back.  We'll run 'em right."

But the state's prison population is still nearly 150 percent of design capacity - and well above the level required by the courts.  Prison health care critics say they'll fight the governor on this - and Brown says he's willing to take it all the way back to the Supreme Court.

Brown: Prostate Cancer Treatment "Finished"

Meanwhile, the governor says his treatment for prostate cancer is finished - and he's all set for a busy month at the State Capitol.

Brown: "I'm ready, I'm raring to go and don't expect me to leave too soon!"

Those were the governor's first comments on his health since his office announced he was diagnosed with localized prostate cancer in mid-December.

At the time, Brown's oncologist said the cancer had been found in an early stage and his prognosis was "excellent."  The governor kept a low profile during his treatment, and his office did not give out many details.

Brown will release his budget proposal on Thursday and give his annual State of the State address in a couple of weeks.