California Democrats were scheduled to vote on a crime bill on Wednesday that Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) had hoped would be able to counter a Republican-backed crime bill on the state’s ballot this fall, but Democrats reversed course at the last minute and canceled the vote.
Governor Newsom called the bill an “important step in addressing the property crime and fentanyl crisis.” Monday’s announcement.
But the bill was pulled from the state Assembly’s agenda Wednesday, just one day before they were scheduled to vote on whether to approve it for the November ballot.
Newsom had hoped the bill would be a more moderate alternative to a reform measure on the Election Day ballot that seeks to repeal parts of Proposition 47, the landmark law that turned many crimes in the state from felonies to misdemeanors. The bill has the backing of conservative lawmakers, big-box retailers and prosecutors.
Moderate and progressive Democrats in the state Legislature were wary of Newsom’s proposal, with some seeing it as a hasty response to the Republican effort. The Los Angeles Times reported.State legislative leaders previously promised not to make any reforms to Proposition 47, instead Alternative crime prevention bill.
The bill needed to be passed and signed by midnight Wednesday to be on the ballot, but those concerns, combined with lawmakers being absent from the House for the Fourth of July, have left the vote in limbo.
Governor Newsom decided to visit Washington on Wednesday to meet with President Biden and other Democratic governors amid growing concern within the party following President Biden’s poor performance in last week’s debate. The California governor has emerged as a leading candidate to succeed Biden if the president ends his re-election campaign.
“We are unable to meet the deadline to vote to secure the amendments necessary to ensure this bill’s success and are withdrawing the bill from consideration,” Governor Newsom said in a statement about his decision to withdraw the bill. “I thank the Legislature and countless stakeholders who came to the table to work on meaningful reform and look forward to our work moving forward.”
Governor Newsom blamed the bill’s failure on the administration’s failure to cooperate with the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA), which supports other crime reform bills and has opposed Proposition 47 for years.
In a statement, the CDAA congratulated the Democrats for dropping their countermeasures.
“We are pleased that the Governor and Legislature have rescinded their countermeasures and welcome them to join our campaign to responsibly reform Proposition 47 to address retail theft, the fentanyl crisis and homelessness,” said Greg Totten, the association’s CEO.
