Lanhee Chen: California’s $268 Billion Spending Spree

Friday, May 21, 2021

California Governor Gavin Newsom has put forth a massive budget that proposes to spend $268 billion next year. Included in it are rebates for many families in the state—a provision that will undoubtedly win support as he faces a recall election this Fall. 
 
But a good look at what he proposes reveals a bigger problem. A desire to spend money without transparency into or accountability for how it’s being spent. It’s an age-old problem that we see in state capitols and yes, in Washington, D.C. too. It’s become a particularly acute problem during a time when eye-popping sums of money are being spent in the name of “relief” and “recovery.” 
 
California has a neutral scorekeeper called the Legislative Analyst Office, that just reviewed Newsom’s budget proposal. Their advice: don’t spend the money until there’s a plan in place to spend it wisely and account for every dollar that goes out the door.  
 
Seems like basic advice. It’s what families and businesses across our country do. We should hold our public leaders to the same standard.  

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