SACRAMENTO – Today, Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) issued the following statement on the recent reports released by the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) showing that Governor Newsom’s budget surplus spending is ineffective and unsustainable.
“The Governor’s newly revised budget completely missed the mark for what Californians need most right now and the LAO agrees that his priorities are downright irresponsible.
“Not only did the LAO confirm what Republicans have been saying for months that the most effective way to help curb the cost of gas is by suspending the gas tax, they also pointed out that the Governor’s grand plan to provide tax rebates for zero-emission vehicles does absolutely nothing to help provide Californians with relief at the pump.
“We have the largest budget surplus in the state’s history, and the Governor’s frivolous wish list offers no real help to overtaxed Californians who are struggling with inflation and rising gas prices.
“Adding insult to injury, the Governor’s proposals set California up for a fiscal cliff in 2023, as he refuses to allocate sufficient resources to the state’s rainy day fund. I’m struggling to decide which is worse – the Governor’s failure to provide immediate relief to Californians or his unwavering determination to spend every penny and drive the state into deeper debt.”