Thursday, February 19, 2026

Instapundit - HE’LL DO TO THE COUNTRY WHAT HE DID TO CALIFORNIA:

Gavin Newsom goes global: why US voters should beware. - Stephen Green
While the governor’s 2026 budget proposal attempts to frame the challenge as a “manageable” $2.9 billion shortfall, the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office has painted a far bleaker picture, projecting an $18 billion deficit...
The state has a cost-of-living crisis that drives the middle class away, thanks to factors including:
  • •Energy costs: Californians pay the highest electricity rates in the continental United States — nearly double the national average.
  • •Gas prices: Aggressive environmental taxes and regulatory premiums keep California’s gas prices much higher than in the rest of the country.
  • •The poverty paradox: Despite its vast wealth, California has the highest poverty rate in the nation when accounting for the cost of living. More than 7 million residents lack the resources to meet basic needs.
When Newsom boasts of “California values,” he speaks of a system that punishes middle class residents through high taxes and regulatory burdens, forcing them to flee to other states...

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