SACRAMENTO -- Much as advertised, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proved himself a pro-business chief executive during September's flurry of legislative decisions, vetoing Democrats' bills that he considered a burden to the state's employers, such as a minimum wage hike.

Schwarzenegger vetoed nearly 20 business-related bills sent him by the Legislature's majority party, saying no to a $7.75-an-hour minimum wage proposed by California's union members and to limits on Wal-Mart's corporate and job practices. He also blocked at least three bills that would have limited companies from moving jobs overseas.

He also stood with U.S. prescription drug manufacturers, stopping moves to make it easier for state government and consumers to shop for cheaper drugs from Canadian pharmacies.

"There were no surprises in his actions. He has made it clear throughout his campaign and his administration that job growth is at the top of his agenda," California Chamber of Commerce President Alan Zaremberg said.

Schwarzenegger, a Republican, campaigned last year with heavy financial backing from corporate interests. He promised to win back jobs lost to other states, improve the state's business climate, and prevent government interference.

"The governor assured voters last fall he wanted to bring high-wage jobs and economic vitality to California, and this first round of signings and vetoes is a very bold and important first step," said Gino DiCaro, spokesman for the California Manufacturers and Technology Association, a political arm for 700 California companies. DiCaro said Schwarzenegger vetoed 17 of the 18 bills the group urged him to reject.

The governor's actions sparked criticism from consumer and labor groups that said he was more obedient to business interests than to his claim of being "the people's governor."

"Arnold Schwarzenegger is not governing from the middle. He gave the people a few modest signatures and lavished big business with vetoes on major consumer protection bills," said Richard Holober, executive director of the Consumer Federation of California.

Schwarzenegger vetoed bills to limit markups that car dealers charge on dealer-arranged financing and to make businesses notify employees when they monitor their e-mail. He limited doctors' ability to sue health maintenance organizations for failing to pay them and rejected penalties for employers who pay women less than men for the same work. Finally, he vetoed a bill to slow future expansion of ports in Long Beach and Los Angeles if growth pushed smog levels beyond the region's 2005 levels.

Tim Carmichael, president of Los Angeles-based Coalition for Clean Air, called it "the most significant air bill to reach the governor's desk," and said Schwarzenegger sided with economic interests over his own promises to cut California's air pollution levels by half.