Inside California Politics: June 21, 2025

Yahoo

24-06-2025

(INSIDE CALIFORNIA POLITICS) — State Senator Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) is speaking out about a lack of funding for Proposition 36 in Governor Gavin Newsom's proposed budget. Blakespear joined Inside California Politics this week as Gov. Newsom and the legislature work to reach a budget agreement before the July 1 deadline.
Prop 36, which stiffens penalties for repeat drug and theft offenders, passed by an overwhelming majority in 2024. Despite the widespread support, Gov. Newsom did not allocate any funding for the law in his revised budget proposal, citing the state's $12 billion deficit.
'We just shouldn't be playing politics with the voters' will,' Blakespear said. 'The voters supported this at 68%. At the end of the day, we need to fund it. We need to implement this. We need to carry through on what the voters asked for, and that should be the bottom line.'
Gov. Newsom, who openly campaigned against the proposition over concerns that it would drive up incarceration rates, argues it is up to local officials who supported the law to find the money.
Host Nikki Laurenzo also sat down with political strategists Rob Stutzman (R) and Andrew Acosta (D) to discuss the funding battle.
'The petulance is playing out,' Stutzman said. 'This is a measure that passed in every county, 70% statewide, over [Newsom's] opposition. He famously said when polling came out before the election showing widespread support, 'Oh, I don't recognize my state anymore.' And then behind the scenes, his administration was telling business leaders, 'If you support this, we're just not going to fund it.' He's already lost on this.'
The interview also touched on whether Gov. Newsom has emerged as the leader of the Democratic Party, immigration enforcement in Los Angeles and Arnold Schwarzenegger's recent call for unity among democrats and republicans.
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