Republican legislators issue responses to State of the State

California Republican legislators, including two who represent portions of the Santa Clarita Valley, issued responses Thursday to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s State of the State address, the final one of his two terms as governor and his first in-person address to legislators at the State Capitol since 2020. 

“While it’s nice to see the governor back in the Capitol, Californians deserve more than a speech,” state Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares, R-Acton, said in her prepared statement. “For years, the governor has been more focused on national politics, social media stunts, and positioning himself for higher office than addressing the serious challenges facing families here at home.” 

Under his leadership, California’s budget has swung from a $98 billion surplus to an $18 billion deficit, said the statement from Valladares, whose district encompasses the SCV. 

She cited examples including: failed attempts to address the homelessness crisis, despite $40 billion in expenditures; Newsom’s failed pledge to build 3.5 million homes by 2025; a median home price of nearly $900,000 that is “locking families out of the American Dream”; nation-leading gas prices; and, soft-on-crime policies including a failure to fund the enforcement called for by Proposition 36. 

“Despite voters passing Proposition 36 with nearly 70% support, the governor has refused to fully fund the measure, leaving communities frustrated and unsafe,” said the release from Valladares’ office.  

“Californians are paying the price for failed leadership — through higher costs, wasted tax dollars, and policies that simply don’t work,” Valladares added in the release. “It’s no surprise that record numbers of Californians are leaving the state. This is what happens when governing takes a back seat to political ambition.”  

“As the governor prepares to ask voters for a promotion,” Valladares concluded, “I hope the rest of the country is paying close attention to the real state of the state, and the record of broken promises and failed leadership Californians have been living with every day.” 

Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale, criticized the governor for offering political theater rather than providing real solutions for the rising costs that are plaguing Californians.  

“Families don’t feel progress — they feel pressure,” Lackey, whose district includes some eastern portions of the SCV, said in a news release. “Rent is crushing, gas and groceries are out of control, utility bills are soaring, and people are being priced out of the state they call home.” 

“Californians are done with excuses and distractions,” Lackey concluded. “They want leadership that focuses on affordability, accountability and the basic responsibility of governing. Until that happens, no amount of finger-pointing or polished speeches will change the fact that Californians are paying more and getting less.” 

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