Hit-and-Run: Newsom Crashes into $35 Billion Deficits

SACRAMENTO – A brutal new report from the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office confirms what every Californian already knows: the state budget is crashing. California faces an $18 billion deficit next year, and it’s projected to hit $35 billion annually by 2027.

While the LAO lays out the damage in plain terms, Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative Democrats are pretending none of it is their fault. They blamed the federal government in a press release meant to distract from decades of one-party budget control. The problem is their spending. Period.

The facts aren’t up for debate:

1. Newsom inherited a budget that had already recovered from the Great Recession, a booming stock market, and record tax revenue.
2. He spent through a pandemic surplus and ignored warnings during years of economic growth.

Now California’s back in recession-level deficits. This time, they’re self-inflicted.

Even the LAO is sounding the alarm:

“Budget Position Is Weak. We advise the Legislature to address the budget problem through a combination of ongoing solutions — namely, achievable spending reductions and/or revenue increases.”

Democrats didn’t just ignore the warning signs. They hit the gas.

“This is the result of Newsom’s own choices,” said Assembly Republican Leader Heath Flora. “He refuses to take responsibility, and is leaving California taxpayers to pay the price. It’s a completely self-inflicted failure.”

Newsom and California Democrats wrecked the budget, fled the scene, and now they’re pretending they weren’t behind the wheel.

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