“If this rule is too expensive for Newsom’s administration, what makes him think it’s OK to force it on businesses?”  Last week the Newsom administration rolled out a new air conditioner mandate for California workplaces that’s expected cost businesses hundreds of millions of dollars. If that sounds like a lot of money to you, the Governor agrees. That’s why he encouraged a special carve out for his administration and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.   “California already has one of the most brutal business climates in the country. The last thing we ne ..read more

SACRAMENTO – Last week, Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (Yuba City), Assemblywoman Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach) and Assemblyman Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin) traveled to the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss human trafficking and the fentanyl epidemic with border security officials.  During the trip, lawmakers met with Border Patrol staff to discuss challenges faced by their agents and what can be done at the state level to help with border security. Solutions included the deployment of additional National Guard members to help the Border Patrol, allowing more cooperation between sta ..read more

Gov. Newsom loves to preach about accountability in California’s fight against homelessness. Since 2018, he’s been a broken record, demanding measurable results from just about everyone: 10/10/18: “[W]e’ve laid out a detailed, comprehensive strategy to address the homeless crisis […]. And we’ve laid out prescriptive, measurable opportunities to actually make a real impact…” (Fox2 KTVU). 2/19/20: “We must replace California’s scattershot approach with a coordinated crisis-level response. […] And we will [reduce homelessness] with real accountability and consequences.” (2020 State of the State ..read more

SACRAMENTO – Today, Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher issued the following statement on the early action budget deal announced by Gov. Newsom and Democrat legislative leaders:   “This deal is a swing and a miss from Democrats. California’s budget has major league problems and Newsom is proposing JV solutions. With a $73 billion deficit, this gimmicky agreement is not the homerun Gavin thinks it is. The emotional, real truth of this budget is visceral to the Californians who will pay the price for Newsom’s delusions and exaggerations.” ### The post Field of Schemes: Newsom & ..read more

California Now Expected to Fall to World’s Sixth Largest Economy, While Governor Newsom Remains out of Touch with Reality.  Today, The Sacramento Bee highlighted a recent report saying California’s economy will fall to the sixth largest in the world, trailing behind India. The article points out California’s GDP grew only 2.1% last year, ranking California as 32nd for growth in the United States and below the US average of 2.5%. But apparently, all is fine and dandy in Newsom’s pocket universe. He has gone as far as to say:  •     “California is a remarkable ..read more

Public records request includes “bakery exemption” documents, communications between Newsom admin & donor.  SACRAMENTO – Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher and Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones have sent a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom requesting records from his office to shed light on the origin and negotiation process of the “bakery exemption” to California’s fast-food labor law that has been at the center of the PaneraGate scandal.  The letter calls on the governor to release all documents related to the exception, as well as ..read more

SACRAMENTO – Today, Legislative Republicans called on Attorney General Rob Bonta to launch an investigation into allegations of “pay-to-play” politics in the crafting of Assembly Bill 1228. The bill, which increased the minimum wage for fast-food workers by 25%, contains an unjustified carveout that benefits a longtime acquaintance of Governor Gavin Newsom. The request from Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (Yuba City), Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (San Diego) and Assemblyman Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin) comes in the wake of a Bloomberg  ..read more

Republicans will unveil legislation to fight retail theft, avert a small-business tax increase and give consumers a sales tax holiday.  SACRAMENTO – Wednesday, February 21 at 9am, Republican lawmakers will join small-businesses owners, advocates and law enforcement on the West Steps of the Capitol for a press conference announcing legislation to support small businesses. Speakers will highlight the challenges of operating a small business in California, including high taxes, heavy-handed regulations, rising costs and crime.  Lawmakers will present a series of bills to a ..read more

Sacramento, CA – Today, the Assembly Republican Caucus sent a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom, urging him to take action on the humanitarian and drug crisis at California’s southern border. In the letter, Republican lawmakers highlighted the insufficiency of Gov. Newsom’s border security measures to date, which have included increasing the state’s presence at the border by just 20 National Guard members.  “Our southern border is in crisis,” said Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (Yuba City). “Human trafficking and the influx of deadly drugs like fentanyl are devastating communit ..read more

Proposals would repeal AB 5, cancel Biden independent contractor rule.  SACRAMENTO – Today, Republican lawmakers, including Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (Yuba City), Rep. Kevin Kiley (Rocklin), Asm. Kate Sanchez (Rancho Santa Margarita), joined business advocates Tom Manzo from the California Business & Industrial Alliance and Matthew Estipona of the Associated Builders and Contractors to announce new efforts in their fight to protect independent contractors. In the California Legislature, Asm. Sanchez will introduce legislation to repeal state limits on contrac ..read more