California Gov Gavin Newsom signs budget to close $46.8B deficit, GOP lawmakers call it 'unsustainable'

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA: California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a budget intended to close an estimated $46.8 billion deficit on Saturday, June 29, as per Fox News.

While Newsom and legislative leaders across the aisle had reached an agreement before passing the budget, with both sides making concessions and gains, some GOP lawmakers later voiced their disapproval, claiming they were left out of negotiations.

The Democratic Governor praised the budget, which aims to close the deficit through $16 billion in spending cuts and temporarily raising taxes on some businesses, as "responsible."

He claimed that the budget prepared "for the future while investing in foundational programs that benefit millions of Californians every day," adding, "Thanks to careful stewardship of the budget over the past few years, we're able to meet this moment while protecting our progress on housing, homelessness, education, health care and other priorities that matter deeply to Californians."

GOP lawmakers say California's 2024 budget only caters to the 'majority party'

Republican Senator Roger Niello of Fair Oaks, Vice-Chair of the Senate Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review, slammed the budget for only catering to the "majority party," and told Fox News that he only found out about it from an X (formerly Twitter) post. 

He said, "This budget certainly reflects the majority party’s priorities, but it ignores the priorities of eight million residents of this state because none of my Republican colleagues were involved in the development of the budget." 

Niello also called the budget package "nominally balanced but not sustainable," explaining, "It fails to rein in the past decade of irresponsible growth in government spending. It relies on budget gimmicks, draws down our savings, and saddles future generations with debt."

"Each senator, whether Democrat or Republican, in California, represents almost a million people, and those million people each should have a voice on what happens in the legislature regarding the budget," remarked the Republican, accusing state Democrats of playing "shadow games with accounting" rather than "being responsible with California’s checkbook."

His remarks were echoed by Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones of San Diego, who argued that the Californians represented by GOP members in the legislature were effectively denied a say in the matter.

Internet slams Gov Gavin Newsom and Democrats as some GOP lawmakers claim they were left out of negotiations over California's revised budget 

Netizens rallied for the GOP lawmakers who called out Gov Newsom and Democrat legislative leaders for excluding them from budget negotiations.

One wrote, "Ignoring 8 million voices is not governance; it’s mismanagement—Californians deserve better," and another stated, "California under Gavin Newsom will become unsustainable."

"Business as usual with Democrats," said a person, while someone else noted, "Of course the GOP was left out. The far left wants unilateral power & disrespects our democracy."

"Good, let them drive it in the ground and the repubs will have clean hands," declared an individual. 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.