Newsom’s ZEV program is neither an “investment” – investment suggests there will be a return on capital – nor is it “California’s historic commitment” – it’s supplemental to Newsom’s October order, which outlawed the sale of new gasoline- and diesel-powered cars after 2034. This is personal with him. The entire scheme has the look of becoming the object of the governor’s affection the same way Jerry Brown adopted the high-speed rail as an ego project.

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In what many people view as an extension of this policy, the Long Beach and Los Angeles city councils are now considering mandating a $4 per hour grocery worker pay boost that would last for “at least” four months. Imposing a government-mandated wage increase on grocers is far different from grocers offering their workers’ hero pay.

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In September 2019, the California state legislature approved legislation to require companies to provide benefits and to pay overtime to contract workers. If that were the end of the story, the result would have been the end of the “gig economy,” and other working arrangements, in the state. However, a ballot initiative was put forward to reverse the legislature’s restriction.

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Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, elected in 2018 with 62% of the vote, appears to be in trouble. Several recall efforts have failed, but one is still active, and it has until March 17 to collect the 1,495,709 signatures needed before a recall election can be placed on the ballot. Already more than 900,000 have been gathered.

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Consider Governor Newsom’s proposal to spend $777.5 million on the so-called “California Jobs Initiative”. More than half of these expenditures ($430 million) will increase funding to the California Competes Tax Credit program (CalCompetes). CalCompetes is a bribe to politically favored companies to remain in, or move to, California. The program overtaxes one group of Californians so state leaders can disburse the largesse to politically favored ones. 

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