Last June, Governor Newsom signed a state budget requiring $4.3 billion in annual efficiencies from State departments, CSU and UC. But in January, Newsom reported that the departments under his control and funded by the General Fund expect to achieve just one quarter of the savings expected from them:
That puts more pressure on CSU and UC, both of which are funded by the General Fund but neither of which have the influence over Newsom that unions representing public employees in State departments do. That’s because CA Democrats like Newsom fear nothing more than attracting the ire of public employee unions, which are politically very active and seek to maximize the staffing, salaries and benefits that make up so much of the cost of those departments. Newsom always does their bidding, which is why staffing and salaries have increased so much under him, California schools were shut longer than any other state, and you’d be hard pressed to find a single instance in which he criticized their performance. His fear of disappointing them has had harsh consequences for students, residents and taxpayers.
In 2026, California must elect a governor who fears disappointing students, residents and taxpayers, not public employees.
