Category: Gavin Newsom

President Biden Approves California’s Major Disaster Declaration

In response to heavy storm damage, the federal government will be providing aid to the state of California, as announced by the White House April 3, after President Joe Biden issued a major disaster declaration. While storms have persistently pounded the state this season, the statement notes that relief is aimed at assisting local recovery…


Biden Administration Permits California to Ban Diesel-Powered Heavy Trucks Starting 2036

California can now move forward with its plan to ban new diesel-powered heavy-duty truck sales starting 2036 after receiving the Biden administration’s approval March 31. “Under the Clean Air Act, California has longstanding authority to address pollution from cars and trucks. Today’s announcement allows the state to take additional steps in reducing their transportation emissions through…


University of California Proposes Guaranteed Admission for Qualified Transfer Students

The University of California (UC) proposed a plan this week to guarantee admission to qualified community college students—but only for certain campuses. UC officials presented their plans to state legislators during a March 28 state Assembly budget hearing. To be guaranteed admission, students must be enrolled in a state community college and would need to…


California Gov. Newsom Announces $10 Million PAC Targeting Red States

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is on the campaign trail, aiming to turn traditionally red states into opportunities for the Democratic Party, with the help of $10 million in funding from his war chest and a newly launched Campaign for Democracy political action committee. Announced March 30, the cross-country effort will put Newsom and his blueprint…


Newsom’s Fast-Tracked Oil Bill Will Raise Gas Prices

Commentary Gov. Gavin Newsom’s oil bill to reduce gas prices at the pump actually will increase them. It’s simple economics: Increase regulations, potential tax increases, and uncertainty into any market, and the price of its goods will go up. That’s precisely what will be the result of Senate Bill 2, introduced by state Sen. Nancy…


California Farmers Flood Fields to Boost Groundwater Basin

A field that has long grown tomatoes, peppers, and onions now looks like a wind-whipped ocean as farmer Don Cameron seeks to capture the runoff from a freakishly wet year in California to replenish the groundwater basin that is his only source to water his crops. Taking some tomatoes out of production for a year…


Newsom Signs Price-Gouging Penalty Bill for Oil Companies

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill March 28 that plans to target oil companies with a windfall-profits penalty law, after it was rushing through both chambers of the Legislature in a week. The law will create new regulations and extensive oversight for oil companies and allows an appointed commission to issue fines and penalties…


Newsom Eases Water Restrictions After Storms Drench California

The drought is not yet over, but this year’s wet and snowy storms have delivered enough water for California to ease residential restrictions, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced March 24. Newsom signed an executive order Friday to stop asking residents to cut water use by 15 percent, a measure he first called for two years ago….


California’s Windfall Profits Penalty Bill on Oil Companies Sails Through State Senate

California’s first-of-its-kind bill to cap oil company profits and regulate the industry easily won approval March 23 from the state Senate as it moves to the Assembly and near-certain passage. Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom’s campaign to punish oil companies for charging record-high prices at the pump last year in the state—reaching $9 a gallon in…


Newsom Proposes Multibillion Bond to Treat California’s Addicted, Mentally Ill Amid Homeless Crisis

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced March 19 a ballot initiative that would raise more than $3 billion to provide lodging and treatment to homeless people with mental illness and drug addictions. “It’s unacceptable, what we’re dealing with at scale now in the state of California, not only in terms of what’s happening on the streets…