California government spending rises at 4-times the inflation rate

Photo above - Hat trick! Artist's fanciful conception of California's 250 mph high speed train rushing out of a huge underground tunnel, while bladeless wind turbines power it from the hillside above. Departure has been delayed indefinitely, however . . .

If you want bigger government and more free stuff, California is the place to be. Most people would have guessed that already, but a taxpayer watchdog group just made it official. From 2019 to 2024, state spending rose 50% - an average of 10% a year. The US national inflation rate was around 2.5% annually over the same period.

This would be a difficult stunt to pull off in ANY era, let alone one where CNN and Fox are having primetime light saber duels over taxes, spending, and deficits. So how did California get away with this chicanery? The legislature and Governor Newsom were found to be “recklessly over-projecting revenue” . . . In other words, lying about how much the state was going to collect in taxes. By hundreds of millions of dollars a year. See link below. The article goes on to state that “they’ve used accounting trickery that would make Enron Musk blush.” Wow, I can’t think of a WORSE indictment. But then again, Musk and Tesla received billions of dollars in federal subsidies and tax credits beginning in the Obama era, so this isn't new territory for anyone.

What’s truly amazing is how little of California's over-spending reached taxpayers. The hills still burn to a cinder each year. The electric grid relies on century old high voltage wires. Rivers are drying up, and reservoirs being drained. There’s an epic crime wave of shoplifting, carjackings, and drug sales. Police try to avoid responding to 911 calls unless it’s “shots fired” or “officer down”. That Star Trek looking high speed rail line will evidently never carry a single passenger.

I doubt this is going to end like DC, where Trump sends in the National Guard. That would simply give Governor Newsom a platform to boost his run for the White House. In a divided America both men are viewed as demi-gods, and their sins are championed as virtues.

If anyone wants to run against Newsom for president in 2028 – democrat or republican – the issues are the same as they ever were: taxes, spending, and crime.

I’m just sayin’ . . .

California spending up 50% per capita since 2019

California high-speed rail: $15.7B already invested in 'failed' project as Republicans criticize Newsom | FOX 11 Los Angeles