Some take Newsom’s win as a rejection of the grassroots movement that put him up for recall, but a closer look suggests it has more to do with money.

October 1, 2021
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When reflecting on Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent recall victory, a friend of the California Policy Center reminded me of a scene in the film Indecent Proposal ([link removed]) .

Woody Harrelson’s character had just been left by the love of his life, who’d run off with another man. Before handing divorce papers over to his soon-to-be ex, played by Demi Moore, Harrelson made an astute observation: He’d not lost her to a better man, just one with more money.

It would be easy to look at Newsom’s win as a rejection of the massive, grassroots movement that put him up for recall in the first place, or use it to dismiss citizen initiatives altogether. But, a closer look suggests Newsom’s win may have less to do with his ideas and even the job he’s done as governor, and more to do with money.

In his case, a lot more.

In total, Newsom and the various committees working to protect him from recall brought in just shy of $80 million ([link removed]) . Together, Newsom’s opponents raised just over $50 million, though the leading contender, Larry Elder, campaigned with around $20 million.

Over $11.5 million of Newsom’s support came from government unions, and he received another $4.4 million from unions representing both public- and private-sector workers. Time and again, ([link removed]) we saw government unions kick money collected through membership dues to Newsom during the recall cycle, and in exchange, receive nice payoffs.

With a contribution of over $1.8 million, the California Teachers Association was Newsom’s top government union supporter, though gifts from other education unions brought the support from public school employees nearly $2.5 million. One could easily argue Newsom is repaying these donors in the best way he can: by supporting their vehement demands ([link removed]) that all students be masked at school, and hinting he will mandate students be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The California Correctional Peace Officers Association’s $1.75 million contribution is paying enviable dividends. Despite the Legislative Analyst’s Office determining ([link removed]) the raises lacked “clear justification,” and a compensation study finding California guards receive 40% higher compensation than their counterparts in local government, Newsom signed off on $5,000 raises ([link removed]) and 12 days worth of wellness relief time for prison guards. Now, Newsom and his administration are actively fighting ([link removed]) to exempt prison guards from his sweeping vaccine mandate for state workers.

The Service Employees International Union Local 1000 — California’s largest public-sector union — gave the governor $1 million to fight the recall attempt, and one can only assume it was a thank-you gift for the pay hikes the members received this summer ([link removed]) . In addition to Newsom’s administration restoring the 9.23% pay cuts the union members (like other government workers) took during the height of the COVID work stoppages, members will receive an additional 4.55% pay increase moving forward.

Quid pro quos like these are arrangements as old as rich men sweeping opportunistic women off their feet. Public-sector unions elect politicians, who once in office, hold incredible power to return the favor. While many Americans are rightly concerned about preserving or restoring integrity to our election process, government unions are buying politicians in broad daylight and stealing away one election after another.

Truly, an indecent proposal.
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Quote of the Week

"L.A. Unified has been a behemoth, often to the detriment of parents and students. Its unions, especially United Teachers Los Angeles, are too powerful. … And though it has made some major improvements to instructional programs and teacher training, that came only after charter schools — smaller, more nimble and more responsive — provided some serious competition." — The Los Angeles Times Editorial Board ([link removed])

More from CPC
* Newsom’s recall and big money ([link removed])
* It’s time to end government-run schooling ([link removed])
* Two ballot proposals hold great promise for CA students ([link removed])
* Listen: Gavin Newsom’s theater of pain ([link removed])

CPC and allies in the news
* Tolerance for the unvaccinated is shrinking- get the jab or get fired! CPC’s Lance Christensen joins Lou Penrose ([link removed])
* California charter schools add thousands of students, public school enrollment falls ([link removed])

Classroom headlines
* More than half of California’s students are reading below grade level, report card says ([link removed])
* California colleges and public schools ordering more vaccine mandates than most other states ([link removed])
* 3,000 petition signers tell Gov. Newsom ‘veto Antisemitic ethnic studies bill’ ([link removed])
* Surge of families seeking remote learning overwhelms L.A. public schools ([link removed])
* Absenteeism surging since schools reopened ([link removed])
* Gavin Newsom says a California school vaccine mandate is ‘on the table’ ([link removed])

Union news
* Elon Musk accuses Biden of being ‘biased’ against Tesla: He’s ‘controlled by unions’ ([link removed])
* LAUSD is shrinking. That could be a good thing ([link removed])
* Government of the unions, by the unions, for the unions ([link removed])
* Newsom bows once again to the prison guard union ([link removed])
* LA’s teachers union shelves vote on Israeli-Palestinian resolution ([link removed])
* UTLA puts financial self-interest ahead of Los Angeles Unified students ([link removed])

Other things we’re reading
* San Francisco landlords file lawsuit against city over ordinance allowing unpaid rent forgiveness ([link removed])
* California to mail every voter a ballot in future elections ([link removed])
* California’s progress against the Delta variant and what to do next ([link removed])
* Federal judge requires vaccines for California prison staff ([link removed])
* Flush with federal COVID cash, OC plans major spending on 2nd mental health campus ([link removed])
* Feinstein introduces bill requiring COVID-19 vaccination, negative testing for air travel ([link removed])

Connect with CPC

Want to keep up with CPC and our partners during the week? Follow us on Twitter ([link removed]) , join our Facebook ([link removed]) community, and sign up to be part of the growing Parent Union ([link removed]) .


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