Reactions to Newsom’s budget + New Senate GOP Caucus chair + Transgender privacy bill introduced

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REACTIONS TO NEWSOM’S BUDGET? DEPENDS

California Gov. Gavin Newsom held court with journalists for nearly two hours Tuesday as he unveiled his proposed 2023-24 $297 billion budget.

The governor sought to downplay concerns about cuts, despite dealing with a predicted $22.5 billion shortfall. He promised to keep plugging away at his signature programs, including the homeless CARE Courts and universal transitional kindergarten.

Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, called Newsom’s proposal “an important first step in the critical work that lies ahead and a preview into what you’ll soon see from the budget work the Senate Demcrats have been doing: a commitment to protect our progress.”

Senate Republican Leader Brian Jones, R-Santee, said that he was “disappointed, but not surprised, by the governor breaking his promise to pay down our unemployment insurance debt — instead he leaves small businesses to bear the brunt of the state’s failures with a tax increase.”

Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood, said that the reserves that California has built up over the last decade “may be important for protecting California’s progressive investments.”

Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, and Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, who chair their chambers’ respective budget committees, both voiced optimism about the way forward.

“While state revenue projections are not as robust as last year, California’s economy and fiscal outlook remain strong. The projected shortfall is manageable thanks to years of smart, responsible budgeting decisions and our more than healthy reserves,“ Skinner said.

Ting, meanwhile, said that with the robust general fund reserves and the state’s “rainy day fund,” California is well-positioned “to weather downturns, allowing us to prioritize the commitments we have made in early childhood, K-12 and higher education, homelessness support, and health care.”

Things were less sunny on the Republican side.

Sen. Roger Niello, R-Fair Oaks, and Assemblyman Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, who vice-chair their respective budget committees, both pooh-poohed Newsom’s proposal.

“California’s assumption of unending higher revenue, combined with overspending on misguided priorities, led the state down the path to the deficit we have today. And this is in contrast to other states that are considering tax rebates at this same time,” Niello said.

Fong said that Newsom’s rhetoric “does not match reality.”

“Facing a $22 billion deficit, Governor Newsom’s budget continues his misguided habit to overspend with little accountability. Newsom’s budget again fails to adequately build water storage and conveyance infrastructure to store water and move it across the state. And this budget framework perpetuates ill-conceived energy policies that will stifle needed affordable and reliable energy supplies when Californians are demanding relief,” he said.

NGUYEN NAMED SENATE GOP CAUCUS CHAIR

Sen. Janet Nguyen, R-Huntington Beach, is now the first-ever Vietnamese American to serve as Senate Republican Caucus chair. The appointment means Nguyen is also the highest ranking Vietnamese American elected official in the state.

Senate Republican Leader Brian Jones on Tuesday announced that he had picked Nguyen for the spot, calling her “a fierce advocate for communities who have been left behind by California’s progressive agenda.”

For her part, Nguyen said she was honored to be named to the post.

“As Chairwoman, I will continue to provide relief for taxpayers, strengthen our economy, and increase public safety to ensure residents of the great state of California are safe and feel at home in their own neighborhoods.,” she said.

The caucus chair is the No. 2 spot in California Senate Republican leadership, and Nguyen will assist Jones in overseeing caucus operations, advancing the California Republican message, and achieving the caucus’ legislative goals, according to a caucus statement.

LAWMAKER INTRODUCES ‘TRANSGENDER YOUTH PRIVACY ACT’

Citing chilling statistics that transgender youths are three times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers, Assemblyman Chris Ward, D-San Diego, has introduced a bill that would seal court records for minors who petition to change their gender or sex identifier.

“Being ‘outed’ is a traumatic event for anyone — but especially traumatic for someone under the age of 18 years old,” Ward said in a statement. “The Transgender Youth Privacy Act gives transgender youth the confidence to navigate their gender identity without fear of retaliation from someone who discovers that information in the public record.”

The bill was lauded by the group TransFamily Support Services, whose executive director, Kathie Moehlig, said in a statement that it will secure the safety and privacy of many California youths.

“Transgender and nonbinary youth are navigating a world of hate daily. By sealing the name and gender marker change records, we are bringing the courts in line with the laws around schools not outing students. Often families were not even aware that these records are public until years after when a court order is discovered in a Google search of the youth’s name. Keeping these records public will put many students at high risk for bullying, hatred, and even violence,” Moehlig said.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“My arrival in Congress is not going to make Gavin Newsom’s life easier. Quite the contrary.”

- Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, via Twitter.

Best of The Bee:

• California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday proposed cutting funds for climate initiatives, deferring spending on capital improvement projects and borrowing funds in order to close a projected $22.5 billion budget deficit in the upcoming fiscal year, via Maggie Angst and Lindsey Holden.

• Jobs may be harder to find and your income probably won’t keep up with inflation. But there appears to be no recession looming. That was the view of Gov. Gavin Newsom in his fiscal 2024 budget, released Tuesday, via David Lightman.

• California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday reaffirmed his commitment to universal transitional kindergarten, despite a projected $22.5 billion funding shortfall, via Andrew Sheeler.

• Inflation-weary state workers likely will still receive raises this year despite a projected $22.5 billion budget shortfall, via Maya Miller.

• Gov. Gavin Newsom would pare back billions from environmental programs in the $297 billion budget he unveiled Tuesday for the state’s upcoming fiscal year, via Stephen Hobbs.

• The California Legislative Women’s Caucus has called on Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White to be removed from his position, after video emerged of White striking his wife during a New Year’s Eve altercation, via Andrew Sheeler.

• A former CalPERS employee, who stole about $685,000 from 10 retirees, has been sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to pay full restitution to the victims she defrauded, California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated Monday, via Randy Diamond.