California Democrats have had a monopoly on state power for the past 16 years, with legislative margins so wide that they don’t have to worry about Republicans holding up their agenda. Despite this, they still insist they need to “take a moment” to come up with a plan for the state.
That was how California Democratic Party Chairman Rusty Hicks defended Gov.-elect Xavier Becerra (D-CA). When confronted with the fact that Becerra, even after winning, refuses to commit to much of anything about the state’s direction over the next four years, Hicks described Becerra as “thoughtful” and disputed that he was being “vague.”
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Here’s what Hicks said in full.
“I think there’s a recognition that issues of affordability and accountability are really what is required in this particular moment, and I think that cuts across a number of different issues, whether it’s housing, whether it’s healthcare, whether it’s the impacts of AI on jobs and education and healthcare and everything in between. I think there is a recognition of the issues that need to be addressed, and Governor-elect Becerra seeks to address them in a thoughtful way in collaboration with his legislative partners, and so, I certainly respect the governor-elect’s desire to take a moment to get his team and plans in place.”
Set aside all the vague nonsense about there being a “recognition” of the issues. What exactly was Xavier Becerra doing throughout the campaign if he wasn’t getting his “plans in place?” With the exception of the effects of artificial intelligence, the issues Hicks mentioned (healthcare, housing, and affordability) have all been concerns in California for the past decade. Anyone running for governor of California should already have plans to address those issues, especially the Democratic nominee, who knew as soon as the primary ended in June that he would be the state’s next governor.
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In fact, the California Democratic Party under Hicks should have its own plans to address those issues. After all, the party has been running the state for the past 16 years. California Democratic Party lawmakers have been debating and passing bills on housing, healthcare, and “everything in between” for nearly two decades. How could they possibly need to “take a moment” to come up with a plan for these things?
The real reason Becerra has been vague is that he does not want to make any promises. California Democrats have shown over the past 16 years that their agenda is unsustainable. California’s costs, taxes, and spending have all gone up, while the quality of life has continued to decline. Becerra, Hicks, and other California Democrats think it’s better to look clueless after decades of running the state than to make more promises they know they can’t keep by detailing plans that everyone knows will make life more expensive for Californians.