California Assembly Republican Caucus
GOP prebuttal highlights how Governor Newsom’s policies have driven California’s unaffordability crisis.
SACRAMENTO — After five years of avoiding the Legislature, Governor Gavin Newsom is returning to deliver the State of the State address. Ahead of the speech, Assembly Republicans released a video highlighting what the Governor is expected to leave out: the real-world consequences of policies that have made California less affordable for working families.
“Governor Newsom has made big promises and launched endless new initiatives,” said Assembly Republican Leader Heath Flora. “But no matter what he says tomorrow, Californians are paying more and getting less, because his policies keep driving up the cost of everyday life.”
Newsom’s record on affordability includes:
- Housing Promises Broken. Newsom failed to deliver on his promise to build 3.5 million new homes. Since 2020, the monthly cost of purchasing a home in California has soared 75 percent, far outpacing wage growth and leaving housing affordability among the worst in the nation.
- Nation-Leading Gas Prices. Newsom blames oil companies, but Californians now pay the highest gas prices in the nation, about 50% more than the national average because of state taxes, fees, and regulations. When he took office, the gap was roughly 25%.
- Wildfire Mismanagement With Real Costs. Newsom talked about prevention, then cut hundreds of millions from wildfire programs before communities burned. Since then, wildfire insurance costs have surged, with homeowners facing thousands of dollars in added annual premiums.
- Waste and Failed Projects. Millions have been squandered on abandoned or mismanaged efforts, including the bullet train, a failed 911 modernization effort, and unused EDD cell phones, even as Californians struggle with the cost of living.
- Budget Denial. Newsom claims the budget is “balanced,” but his historic spending has pushed the state into a multi-billion dollar deficit, increasing pressure for higher taxes, fees, and utility bills on working families, leaving Californians paying more and getting less.
Tomorrow, Governor Newsom will deliver the State of the State. Assembly Republicans’ prebuttal video shows the reality Californians already feel every day. The video highlights housing, gas prices, wildfire costs, wasteful spending, and California’s growing deficit.
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