California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 541, which aimed to provide free condoms to public high school students across the state. Despite acknowledging the importance of improving adolescent sexual health, Newsom cited the bill as too costly, particularly given California’s current budget deficit of over $30 billion.
The program was estimated to cost in the low millions of dollars each year, a figure that Newsom deemed unsustainable in the state’s current financial climate. In his veto message, the governor emphasized the need for fiscal discipline, stating, “With our state facing continuing economic risk and revenue uncertainty, it is important to remain disciplined when considering bills with significant fiscal implications.”
The veto underscores the challenging economic environment in California, where budgetary concerns are increasingly shaping legislative decisions.
What do you think? Short-sighted? Or maybe we should be focusing on other bigger issues at hand. Maybe high crime in cities.