Gov. Gavin Newsom embarked on a public relations tour of Central Valley desperately trying to rebrand his image of being out of touch to hard working Californians who have rejected his agenda.
Born and raised in the Central Valley, I’m proud to call this region my home. Unfortunately for Gov. Newsom, our reasons for spurning his policies are grounded in the reality we see and the consequences of his actions. No amount of rhetoric can deflect from the damage we have endured. The challenges we face and the frustration we feel exist through California and have national and global impacts.
The list of flawed policies continues to grow but let’s examine a few critical areas.
With the energy production of California, the consequences are ever present as Californians endure rising gas prices and energy costs. This reality is a direct result of the actions of the Newsom Administration. Countless permits sit before the governor’s desk that would increase our production of oil and gas to increase affordable energy supplies. Gov. Newsom’s inaction has forced California to import energy from countries that don’t share our interest.
Gov. Newsom has intentionally taken steps that have reduced our refining capacity that risks gasoline shortages. His words touting carbon capture are empty ones when his actions limits its use in oil exploration and prevents the needed construction of infrastructure needed for new technology to flourish. The reality of Newsom’s energy agenda is jobs are lost, business have left California, and residents struggle with growing costs.
As the food production capital of California, the damage is just as stark. Gov. Newsom’s bureaucracy has limited the flow of water supplies to our businesses, farms and homes. Needed water storage projects languish in red tape and lack of investment. Pest outbreaks occur because inept bureaucrats limiting the use of needed tools to respond. California’s vibrant agriculture industry continues to persevere from the burdens of inaction and bad policies. The result is higher food costs and the loss of critical food products that we consume every single day.
Gov. Newsom’s unworkable mandates on trucking, rail and port operations threaten our entire supply chain. Technologically infeasible regulations by the California Air Resource Board (CARB) to force electrification of truck and rail fleets could result in the majority of trucks and locomotives being unable to operate in California. This massive disruption only leads to higher costs for every single Californian. And as our region fights for more highway and road expansion, Gov. Newsom continues to be an obstacle preferring to throw billions of dollars at the mismanaged California High Speed Rail project instead of expanding our rural and urban roads and highways.
Related Articles
The FBI has been political from the start
A new Legislative session: Time for pocketbook pragmatism
Climate activists should pivot from costly pipe dreams to realistic solutions
Privacy agency oversteps authority, jeopardizes California’s opportunity to lead in AI
Newsom’s wrongheaded special session is a misuse of gubernatorial power
We see the rising crime in our neighborhoods resulting from Newsom’s soft on crime approach. We see the fentanyl and human trafficking from his sanctuary state policies. We see businesses and residents leaving California because of the growing burdens of taxes and regulations.
Gov. Newsom demonizes our industries and drives jobs away from our neighbors. This is why more and more Californians are waking up saying enough is enough and I look forward to working with the incoming Trump Administration to expand energy production, enhance our water supplies, secure our supply chain, and revitalize our economy.
Our communities don’t need a lecture on how to feed and power the state and nation, we need Gov. Newsom to listen and undo his out of touch policies.
Vince Fong represents California’s 20th congressional district.