Comments come as Planned Parenthood CEO says measure will create “fiscal cliff” for the state in closing argument to voters
SAN RAFAEL, CA — As the campaign season enters its final days, the No on 40 coalition is spotlighting new comments from California Governor Gavin Newsom in which he forcefully rejects Proposition 40, noting its devastating impact on the state’s finances and the broad and diverse coalition standing with him in opposition, including Planned Parenthood, teachers, and firefighters.
These comments came on the same day the No on 40 coalition released a new video featuring Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California President and CEO Jodi Hicks making the campaign’s closing argument to voters. Hicks warns Californians that “when the money runs out in just a few years, we’ll either face deep cuts to programs or other taxpayers will have to make up the difference.”
Governor Newsom echoed that sentiment in his own comments in response to a question about Proposition 40 at an event yesterday in Marin County. “I think you do it at your peril at the state level. And I think it would end up costing more, in terms of the impact to the state general fund, than any short-term gain that would be advanced,” he said. “That’s not just my position. That’s Planned Parenthood’s position. That’s the position of our teachers. That’s the position of firefighters and so many others that agree. And it appears that the majority of the public agrees with that as well.”
These comments build on the No on 40 ad running statewide featuring doctors and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California detailing how Proposition 40 will “cost California billions in tax revenue” and force “deep cuts to hospitals and clinics” while “90% of the money could go to big health insurance companies with no requirement to lower your healthcare costs.”
Other leaders who share concerns about the measure’s long-term consequences for California also continue to come out against Proposition 40. In recent days, the campaign announced that four of California’s most experienced local and state leaders, Black community leaders, agricultural leaders and farmers, and veterans are standing together against Proposition 40. They join a broad coalition of doctors, teachers, healthcare providers, labor unions, firefighters, civil rights leaders, affordable housing advocates, and small businesses opposing this measure.
Voters are also souring on Proposition 40. According to the PPIC poll released earlier this week, 52% of likely voters would vote no on the measure, while 46% would vote yes. This is a reversal of last month’s poll, which had 52% of likely voters supporting Proposition 40 and 46% opposed. The Berkeley IGS poll, also released this week, tracked a similar trend, finding 50% of likely voters intend to vote no on Proposition 40, while 42% are voting yes. This poll finds yes-side support continuing to slide from the last poll completed in mid-September.
More than 40 publications with readers in every pocket of California have editorialized against Proposition 40, urging Californians to vote “NO” on the measure — from the state’s largest and most respected daily newspapers to community news outlets and Black and Spanish-language media.