Governor Gavin Newsom seems to be on cloud nine with the success of his first state budget. Utilizing flatter tactics towards lawmakers and the Democratic Party as a whole, he was able to gather the support needed for his budget to pass.
However, some lawmakers were not shy to share that it was not all as simple as Newsom makes it sound. There was heavy pushback on some of the governor’s key visions, which clouded several of his campaign promises. Ranging from transportation funding to taxes on water to healthcare and perhaps the most interesting considering it was outside of the budget, the rejection of housing bills that dealt with protection for renters and the construction of new housing. Yet, lawmakers and Newsom have been able to compromise and move forward with the desired objectives.
While Newsom is still new to his office, lawmakers are already noticing difference in styles between Newsom and former Governor Jerry Brown. Newsom is more proactive—he wants to tackle issues by the day—while Brown tackled issues by the year. Some legislators have expressed appreciation for how open Newsom is to new ideas, especially since his vision incorporates ideas that lawmakers have been discussing for years.
While that gives lawmakers more to work with, it also causes more pushback against Newsom. Others have noted that he lacks the focus and depth that Brown had with regard for the issues facing the state. In addition, Newsom tends to overlook the severity of the criticism his policies receive, disregarding them as merely minor problems.
Moreover, the tone is different for Newsom than it was for Brown. The majority of the lawmakers were new to the job when Brown was governor. Now, with much more experience, the legislators are noticing the shift in power from when they first took office. Negotiations are being handled differently but remain largely productive, with some disagreement between Newsom and the legislature. Newsom has also made much more of an effort to socialize with legislators and has shown more willingness to endorse Democratic candidates than Governor Brown did.
Newsom recognizes that his style of leadership can cause problems, something he learned after being Mayor of San Francisco. He is convinced, though, that he has learned from his mistakes and is equipped to handle the governorship. Many legislators, on the other hand, believe it’s too early to predict anything other than the differences between Newsom and Brown. Governor Newsom’s first state budget is a key indicator of some of these differences between himself and previous California governors.
