Democrats' State Budget Makes CA's Cost-of-Living Crisis Worse

Reform California Chairman and State Assemblymember Carl DeMaio slammed Gov. Gavin Newsom and CA Democrats this week for advancing a reckless state budget deal that will result in a massive spike in California's already unsustainable cost of living.

"Gavin Newsom and CA Democrats want to charge struggling Californians more for their purchases, their gas, and even their health insurance - all to fund their continued wasteful spending in government ," DeMaio said.

"This state budget forces citizens to pay more and get less - all so illegal immigrants can get freebies and fraudsters can continue to steal money from taxpayers," DeMaio added.

DeMaio outlines major cost-of-living spikes in the state budget deal:

TAX HIKES: The state budget deal contains over $3.5 billion in tax hikes - including a new sales tax on software purchases and a continued a job-killing payroll tax hike on every employee in the state.

"California does not have a revenue problem - we have a spending problem. Instead of cutting wasteful spending, California politicians are price gouging every taxpayer with this budget and making it harder for them to land jobs," DeMaio declares.

HIGHER HEALTH PREMIUMS: CA Democrats already rejected a Republican proposal to stabilize health insurance premiums and instead are making the problem worse with a new health insurance tax.

"The average California family is already facing a massive 11% spike in their health insurance premiums and this state budget makes that worse by charging a new $400 tax on health insurance - all so Newsom and CA Democrats can gift illegal immigrants $13 billion in free healthcare!" DeMaio notes.

COSTLY MANDATES: Insane regulations and mandates imposed by out-of-control state agencies are the biggest drivers of California's high cost of living - but the budget contains absolutely no reforms to reign in these costs.

"From the price of fire insurance, to the cost of building affordable housing, to going into the ER and even putting food on the table, this state budget deal allows bureaucrats to continue to price gouge every Californian through insane regulations that bring no benefit," DeMaio adds.

HIGHER GAS PRICES: The state budget deal contains another gas tax increase and rejects regulatory reforms to reduce gas prices - even though California drivers already pay $1.68 more per gallon of gas versus the national average - for an annualized higher cost of living of $1747.20 for the average driver.

"By passing a budget that raises the price of gas, Gavin Newsom and CA Democrats show they either aren't aware of the financial struggles of working families or they simply don't care," concludes DeMaio.

In addition to their budget raising the cost of living, DeMaio slams Newsom and California Democrats for using accounting gimmicks and raiding reserves and failing to crack down on rampant fraud in government welfare programs.