(Jacob Bruns, Headline USA) California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 57 this week, which would have legalized the use of illegal drugs under medical supervision, Red State reported.
The remarkably moderate decision from the far-left governor would seem to indicate that Newsom is gearing up for a 2024 Presidential bid by appealing to more centrist policies.
After Newsom ran ads in Florida encouraging its citizens to relocate and taking digs at likely 2024 GOP contender Gov. Ron DeSantis, he himself was ridiculed in response by DeSantis and others—who pointed out the Golden State’s scourge of homelessness, violent crime and rampant open-air drug abuse.
😂😂😂👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/hm7DlpXjI7
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) July 9, 2022
According to Newsom, the unintended consequences of the proposed legislation might have caused California’s decaying cities to completely tank.
“It is possible that these sites would help improve the safety and health of our urban areas, but if done without a strong plan, they could work against this purpose,” he said.
“These unintended consequences in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland cannot be taken lightly,” he continued. “Worsening drug consumption challenges in these areas is not a risk we can take.”
Newsom did, however, add an appeal to his friends on the far-left, suggesting that he would be willing to adopt a more “moderate” plan, if such things can be said about the legalization of hard drugs.
“I remain open to this discussion when those local officials come back to the Legislature with recommendations for a truly limited pilot program,” he said.
Newsom’s Republican opponents in the state praised his veto, though they noted that his soft approach was insufficient in dealing with the state’s existing drug-abuse epidemic.
Words you don't often here from @KevinKileyCA when it comes to @GavinNewsom:
Kiley is happy with Newsom for vetoing the bill that would have created safe consumption sites in LA, Oakland, and San Francisco. pic.twitter.com/HTUYNqIgH2
— Morgan Rynor (@Morgan_Rynor) August 22, 2022
“I’m glad that the Governor vetoed the bill. Jerry Brown vetoed this same concept,” said congressional candidate Kevin Kiley.
“For some reason, even though now Gavin Newsom and Jerry Brown have both rejected this measure, our legislature has decided to support it,” he added. “… I’m glad that the Governor did not take this incredibly radical and backward step.”
Kiley also said that the justice system needs to “hold accountable” those who disperse hard drugs throughout the state, especially when they are offered to “very young Californians.”
It followed recent reports that candy-colored fentanyl has begun pouring in from across the U.S.–Mexico border.
Despite the dangers of the highly addictive drug, California officials, like the Biden administration at the national level, have failed to take any meaningful action at curbing the surge of illegal immigrants.
Another bill signed by Newsom as part of the recent legislative session prevented a sunset measure that would temporarily have stopped illegals from receiving free health insurance from the state.
The current law extends healthcare benefits to illegal minors, and a recently passed measure will make it available to all illegals as of 2024. However, leftist lawmakers feared that in the interim gap, some illegals might be forced to have to pay for their healthcare if they were to age out of the provisions.
