Today, Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R-San Diego) released the following statement in response to the unnecessary special session called by Governor Gavin Newsom:
“Californians have made it clear: affordability is their top concern. Yet, even with the massive deficit he created, Governor Newsom wants to hand his Attorney General a blank check to wage endless battles against the federal government—while our own state is on fire, both literally and metaphorically.
“This special session is clearly just another political stunt, a desperate attempt to distract from Democrats’ significant losses across California on Tuesday—in the State Senate, State Assembly, U.S. House, and on key ballot measures, including Prop 5’s defeat and Prop 36’s overwhelming win.
"Meanwhile, Newsom’s Air Resources Board is set to approve a gas price hike tomorrow, raising prices another 65 cents per gallon. If Governor Newsom truly cared about protecting Californians, he wouldn’t be price gouging them at the pump while chasing the spotlight for himself.
"What's more, we are already scheduled to be in regular session, so there’s no need for a costly special session. Californians see right through this publicity charade. The rest of the country isn’t fooled by the failed Democrat leadership in California’s never-ending nightmare of high gas taxes, criminal-first policies, and homeless encampments on every block.
“The governor’s job is to run California, not push his political agenda across the country. Newsom is clearly using his position to bolster his name ID for his dream of running for president in 2028. Although he’s a lame duck governor becoming more irrelevant every day, Newsom needs to remember he has two years left on his commitment to run California.”