Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made headlines after his speech during his debate with Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA). DeSantis set tongues wagging by wielding an unlikely exhibit: a map of San Francisco showing how to avoid human fecal matter on the streets.
Although unsightly, the map is reflective of California as a state. Once the envy of the country, California is now a victim of progressive policies. Democratic lawmakers have long outnumbered conservatives in California. However, the state is now veering leftward at a rapid pace.
According to reports, the state legislature introduces between 1,000 and 2,500 bills annually, with sessions that last two years. Consequently, the state had approximately 2,632 and six particular session bills for 2022-2023.
According to the California Globe, the “2023 California Legislative Session has more introductions than normal.” Also, it has the highest number in over a decade. Consequently, Tim Anaya of the Pacific Research Institute lauded the legislative sessions in a September blog post.
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“This year’s legislative session will go down as perhaps the most successful one ever for California progressives,” Anaya said. “Labor and leftists truly flexed their political muscle this year, overcoming the opposition of the so-called moderate Democrats.”
He added that the legislators overcame the business community “to advance virtually every legislative priority they had.” Consequently, Newsom vetoed more than everyone expected. He stopped so many bills that some media outlets credited the governor for holding back the progressive tsunami.
Hence, the Los Angeles Times said Newsom’s vetoes show he’s “acting as a moderating force on the liberal Legislature.” “One reason is simply that the Legislature was unusually progressive this year,” the article continued, “passing significant labor-backed bills that had failed in the past.”
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Newsom’s decision to veto the progressive bills hardly signals that California is changing its ways. However, some say it suggests limiting how much the governor can benefit nationally from the state’s leftward lurch.
Conversely, others believe it’s an attempt by Newsom to posture himself as more centrist ahead of a presidential run. Although he vetoed many bills, Newsom did sign Senate Bill 770. Bill 770 is a universal healthcare bill that provides another step closer to government-controlled single-payer.
The East Bay Times says it’s an “incremental step to disaster.” Afterward, the legislature passed Senate Bill 799, which gave away unemployment benefits to workers on strike, prolonging it. Fortunately, Newsom vetoed it. However, many condemned the bill, saying its passage by the legislature was “an attack on business.”
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In addition, Newsom signed Senate Bill 525, which forced hospitals to raise worker’s minimum wage to $25 an hour. Although it favors workers, it puts hospitals in challenging financial positions. In a guest column, Craig S. Castro, president and CEO of Community Health System, criticized Bill 525. He wrote that SB 525 “is another crushing blow for hospitals.”
Castro added that most hospitals are struggling with inflation and the economic aftermath of COVID-19. He said the hospitals are coping without “a commensurate increase in MediCal and Medicare reimbursement rates.” In addition, Castro said that he’s proud of the state’s commitment to help those in need.
However, he’s “perplexed by lawmakers who passed legislation that threatens struggling California hospitals.” Also, Castro said the bill “could reduce the jobs it seeks to bolster.” Bill Vogeli, a fellow with the Claremont Institute, observed that many are fleeing the state because of the harsh laws.
According to data, residents are fleeing the state in large numbers, reinforcing Vogeli’s assertion. In 2022, about 102,000 Californians fled to Texas, and even more did in 2021. In addition, more than 817,000 Californians migrated to other states in the United States in 2022.
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