Not much to Newsom’s State of the State
Speaking before a nearly empty Dodger Stadium that signified the 54,000-plus Californians who have died of COVID-19, Gov. Gavin Newsom gave a long-delayed State of the State speech on Tuesday that defied political conventions — and not just because its unusual location or because it came two months later than scheduled.
Governors usually deliver these addresses before state legislators in the Capitol. They typically offer details about the past year’s policy achievements and a blueprint for the next legislative session. Sure, the speeches always feature lofty rhetoric and self-congratulation, but they provide governors with an opportunity to set an optimistic agenda.
By contrast, Newsom seemed surly and defensive in his Los Angeles speech. Anything a governor does has political implications, of course, but this event seemed to have crossed the usual lines. From the empty stadium symbolism to the images of health care workers, the event had the feel of something that emanated from a political campaign. Many commentators came away with the same feeling.
No one should be surprised. The regularly scheduled gubernatorial election is a year and eight months away, but the effort to recall the governor has gained remarkable steam. Recall supporters claim to have gathered more than 2 million signatures, which should provide them with the 1.5 million verified signatures necessary to qualify for the ballot.
In the speech, Newsom took veiled jabs at the recall’s supporters. He referred to “California critics, who are promoting partisan power grabs and outdated prejudices and rejecting everything that makes California great” and said he “will not be distracted from getting shots in arms and our economy booming again.” He also rebuked “a few naysayers and dooms-dayers.”
Yet there’s plenty of reason for widespread naysaying, after looking at the governor’s year of coronavirus-related policy making. Californians have endured a frustrating year of stay-at-home orders and lockdowns. The pandemic isn’t his fault, of course, but Newsom has relied too heavily on executive orders, has repeatedly shifted the reopening goal posts and most schools remain shuttered. The budget has a surplus, but most state income taxes are paid by the highest earners. Lower earners have been suffering the most.
Our biggest frustration involves the governor’s attempts to use the coronavirus situation to advance a far-reaching progressive agenda. “We entered this pandemic with a care economy suffering from decades of underinvestment,” he said. “California’s most acute preexisting condition remains income inequality. So as we respond to this pandemic, we stay fixated on closing unacceptable disparities.”
He then detailed a variety of subsidy, healthcare, minimum wage and rent-control programs, reminding us that Newsom isn’t about to let a good crisis go to waste. A cynic might deduce that these agenda items seemed designed to rally the Democratic base — and keep potential progressive Democratic rivals off the recall replacement ballot.
We also were dismayed by Newsom’s major sin of omission. The governor never addressed the troubles at the Employment Development Department, which has struggled to pay legitimate unemployment claims even as it paid out billions of dollars in fraudulent claims. The administration owns this scandal. Newsom should have detailed a fix.
Overall, the speech was too gimmicky and political for a State of the State. We’d advise him to spend less time on theatrics and more time re-opening the state.