Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent budget revision has proposed no funding for Proposition 36, leading to a response from Assembly Republicans. They held a press conference urging the governor to reconsider.
Proposition 36, which was approved by nearly 70 percent of voters across all counties in California, aimed to replace incarceration with mandatory treatment for nonviolent drug offenders. Without financial support for mental health and substance abuse programs, the implementation of this law faces significant challenges.
Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher expressed his concerns, stating, “The governor is ignoring the will of the voters. Californians demanded accountability. Newsom delivered nothing.” The press conference included district attorneys, law enforcement officials, and victim advocates who emphasized that Prop. 36 requires investment in treatment infrastructure to be effective.
Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig urged action: “We are asking the Governor to honor the will of the people and fully fund treatment under Prop 36.” Alexa Hansen, Founder of Victim Advocate Angels, added her voice: “We need to fund Prop 36 immediately because we don’t need more victims.”
Assembly Republicans have pledged to continue advocating for what they describe as necessary reforms in public safety and treatment options. They aim to address what they see as a broken promise by pushing for real reform and tangible solutions.
A video replay of the press conference is available online.
