SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — California Governor Gavin Newsom said a controversial ballot measure that would have reformed existing crime and drug laws — and competed against a citizen-backed initiative pushing an opposing set of reforms — will be pulled from consideration, though he and Republicans in the Legislature have differing views as to why.
The governor’s announcement came on the eve of a planned Wednesday vote by the Legislature on Senate Bill 1381 — the legislation that would have put the initiative on the November ballot. Neither chamber is expected to vote on the bill, and the legislative summer recess starts July 4.
SB 1381 would have competed with a citizen-backed initiative that, if passed, will repeal Proposition 47. That proposition, passed 10 years ago, reduced penalties for certain property and drug crimes, and critics claim it’s a reason for the state’s retail theft crisis.
The proposed legislative measure would have tweaked Proposition 47. Democrats hailed it, along with a complementary crime bill package, as the best way to improve existing law. Republicans saw the proposed ballot measure as a method to confuse voters.
“Working with stakeholders and the Legislature, we chose to introduce an alternative measure for Californians to consider that represented a balanced and comprehensive strategy that put public safety first without reverting to outdated and ineffective policies of decades past,” Newsom said in a statement. “It included stiff new penalties for repeat offenders, stricter measures to take down fentanyl dealers, and expanded access to drug treatment programs in our communities.
“Despite these efforts and having the votes necessary to pass the measure, we are unable to meet the ballot deadline to secure necessary amendments to ensure this measure’s success and we will be withdrawing it from consideration,” the governor added.
Republicans were quick to praise the decision and deliver a few punches to Newsom.
“After mounting opposition and brutal media hits, Gavin Newsom finally listened to our calls and dropped his soft-on-crime ballot measure that undermined our democracy,” state Senator and Minority Leader Brian Jones, of San Diego, posted on X, formerly Twitter. “For once, Californians benefitted from having a governor that cares more about national politics than his job in Sacramento.”
Assemblymember Joe Patterson, a Rocklin Republican, set aside the reasons Newsom gave in his statement, arguing that the only reason Democrats pulled the measure is because they didn’t have the votes.
“The real truth: Gavin Newsom didn’t have the votes and the measure had serious flaws because it was drafted last minute,” echoed Assemblymember and Minority Leader James Gallagher, of Yuba City.
“Flying on a plane to D.C., Newsom has shown where his priorities are and they are not here in California,” Gallagher added. “We will be here working to solve the problems that face our state.”
Newsom left the state Wednesday for a meeting at the White House.
The decision to pull the proposed ballot measure is the latest development in a political fight over Proposition 47.
Critics of that proposition have pointed to viral videos showing brazen daytime thefts, claiming that reduced criminal penalties for thieves led to worsening crime. However, Democrats see Proposition 47 as needed reform to the criminal justice system, namely to curb a culture of mass incarceration.
Retail theft ultimately led Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas to form a select committee on the issue. A package of bills focused on changing aspects of Proposition 47 emerged months later. Addressing crime and drugs, the bills had bipartisan support until Democrats added urgency and inoperability clauses to them.
Republicans said the inoperability clause, which would have made the bills null and void if the Proposition 47 repeal effort passes, were a “poison pill.” They claimed the state attorney general would use it to write a misleading title and description for the citizen-initiated ballot measure.
Democrats ultimately removed the clauses and formerly offered their own competing ballot initiative on Monday.
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