Senator Megan Dahle (R-Bieber) responded to Governor Gavin Newsom’s “State of the State” address delivered to the Legislature, offering a critical perspective on his administration’s record.
Dahle stated, “Gavin Newsom is always an enthusiastic cheerleader for his own policies and the great things happening in the Golden State. When you check the scoreboard of his administration, the rah-rah is hollow.”
She addressed several key points from Newsom’s speech. According to Dahle, while Newsom claimed significant progress during his tenure, many Californians do not see these improvements reflected in their daily lives. She pointed out that electric rates in California are double the national average and gasoline prices are significantly higher than elsewhere in the country.
Dahle also commented on housing issues: “When running for governor he promised to unlock home building to ease the state’s dire housing shortage. The result? Building permits are basically unchanged, the homeownership rate is flat, and young families remain utterly priced out of a broken housing market.”
The senator noted population trends as well. “The governor bragged about our growing population – but in the past five years, according to the administration’s own estimates – 1.25 million Californians have left for other states, over and above newcomers who arrived from within the country. While immigrants still come to test their luck, for all too many Californians already here, the math of a middle-class lifestyle just doesn’t add up,” she said.
Regarding recent positive fiscal news for California—including stronger-than-expected state revenues and a budget rebound—Dahle attributed this primarily to national economic factors such as growth in stock markets and artificial intelligence industries rather than state policy. She expressed support for increased investment in schools made possible by these developments: “I fully support the investment in our schools, in our children’s success, that this rebound will allow.”
Dahle acknowledged progress with CEQA streamlining efforts highlighted by Newsom and voiced her support: “I appreciate that the governor highlighted CEQA streamlining, which I have supported in the Legislature, and how it is helping finally move Sites Reservoir and other projects forward. I truly hope we can break ground on Sites while he is still governor.”
She concluded by emphasizing her willingness to collaborate with others on practical solutions: “The progress we are seeing there is happening because Sacramento realized the solution to our problems can just be to get government out of the way – instead of more state regulations and more subsidies. I am committed to working with anyone in the Legislature or administration who truly wants to support working Californians in a way that will produce real results.”
