California's Governor Plays Politics with Crime Law

California's voters made a clear choice in November. They wanted tougher penalties for serious crimes. Over 68% of them backed Proposition 36. This law targets felony drug dealers, repeat shoplifters, and those involved in smash-and-grab robberies. It was a landslide victory. Proposition 36 even got more votes than any other proposition or candidate on the ballot. That includes former Vice President Kamala Harris, who is from California. Despite this overwhelming support, Governor Gavin Newsom is not on board. He opposed the proposition from the start. He sees criminals as the real victims of the justice system. This is not a new stance for Newsom. He has a history of favoring leniency over tough penalties. He has been in office for seven years. During this time, he has pushed for various progressive initiatives. Many of these have led to budget deficits. Newsom's budget proposal for January is around $322 billion. The GOP asked for $400 million to enforce Proposition 36. Even some Democrats agreed to allocate $100 million. Newsom refused to include this in his budget. He wants counties to fund it instead. He claims that many county supervisors supported the proposition. Therefore, it is their responsibility to fund it. This move is seen as a way for Newsom to undermine the law. He did not get his way with the voters. Now, he is trying to avoid his responsibility. Newsom has a history of prioritizing his pet projects. These include the high-speed rail and free healthcare for illegal immigrants. Both of these are unfunded. He is not being fiscally responsible. He is playing politics with a law that the majority of Californians support. This is not the first time Newsom has done this. He has a track record of opposing laws he does not agree with. Even when they have overwhelming public support. This approach has not served California well. It has led to budget deficits and a lack of funding for important initiatives. Newsom's actions are not those of a pragmatic leader. They are the actions of someone who puts his ideology above the will of the people. This is not leadership. It is political gamesmanship. It is time for Newsom to step up. He needs to fund Proposition 36. He needs to show that he is willing to work with the will of the people. Not against it.