California Democrats claim that Governor Gavin Newsom’s final state budget includes funding for a voter-approved tough-on-crime law, but critics contend the allocated amounts are insufficient and that the governor is not fully implementing the will of the voters.
Voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 36 in 2024, which aims to increase penalties for repeat offenders and drug dealers, while also creating an option for court-mandated treatment for those convicted. However, critics, including some Republicans and law enforcement groups, assert that Newsom, who previously opposed the proposition over concerns of increasing incarceration, has been reluctant to allocate adequate funds for its full enforcement.
Assemblymember Kate Sanchez, a Republican, stated that despite voters approving Proposition 36 to address repeat theft and drug dealing, Sacramento has not provided the necessary funding for full implementation. Last year, Newsom indicated $100 million was set aside for the proposition, a figure many considered inadequate for the broad crime crackdown which imposes new costs on county law enforcement and service providers. One Republican state senator has proposed legislation to fully fund the proposition at $400 million.
In the current budget, legislative leaders announced $375 million for Proposition 36. However, budget documents reportedly show only $50 million directly allocated to the proposition, intended for probation services and court workload assistance. Newsom's office maintains that funding for related initiatives should be considered as supporting Proposition 36's implementation. A spokesperson for the governor stated that the proposition has existing funds from previous allocations and can leverage billions of dollars in new funding available for related areas.
Critics, such as Greg Totten, president of the California District Attorneys Association, argue that funds are being diverted from other sources and labeled as Proposition 36 money, which he contends amounts to "starving the funding of the initiative." Even some Democrats have voiced concerns, with Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper noting that while the measure is sound, its effectiveness is hampered by a lack of dedicated funding. The California State Association of Counties reported that funding approved last year was delayed and its distribution process complicated.
Assemblymember Josh Hoover, a Republican, criticized Newsom's approach, stating that the governor's slow commitment to funding ignores the clear message from California voters who prioritized public safety. Newsom's office has previously defended its funding approach, asserting that while Proposition 36 did not include a specific funding mechanism, California has provided initial funding and made billions of dollars available to counties for implementation.