‘The people's voice was heard': GOP lawmaker slams Gov. Newsom over Prop 36 funding
'I think the most essential role of government is public safety. Prop 36, passed by 70% of the vote in California, in all 58 counties, including the most liberal counties in California, San Francisco and Marin, voted in the affirmative on Prop 36 to make crime illegal again. But this governor hasn't put the money in the implement the will of the people,' Strickland told Nikki Laurenzo on this week's edition of Inside California Politics.
The Huntington Beach Republican has served in the state capitol since 2012. When asked about what has changed in his time as a lawmaker, Strickland noted there is not as much awareness in terms of subject matter on major issues.
'Its not easy, because we're dealing with 5,000 different bills, to be experts on all these different issues,' Strickland said. 'Elected leaders need to go out and in their community and hear from the citizens of their districts and people from around the state of California. And that's why I'm really in shock that this governor has not funded Prop 36. The people's voice was heard. They want to make crime illegal again in California, and now the governor is not funding that initiative. I am shocked.'
Strickland also pushed back against Gov. Newsom's claim that the state's $12 billion deficit is due to President Donald Trump's tariff policies. He did, however, praise Newsom for allocating more funds toward water management and resources for firefighters. Nikki Laurenzo also sat down with democratic strategist Kevin Liao to discuss the party's weaknesses going into the 2026 elections.
Inside California Politics airs this weekend during the following times:
KTLA: Sunday, May 18 at 5:30 a.m.
KRON: Saturday, May 17 at 6:30 p.m.
KSEE: Saturday, May 17 at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 18 at 8:30 a.m.
KSWB: Sunday, May 18 at 5:30 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
KGET: Sunday, May 18 at 11:30 p.m.
KTXL: Saturday, May 17 at 11:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 18 at 7:30 a.m.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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