Commentary: Boosted by California’s huge budget surplus, Newsom plays Santa Claus to California voters
By George Skelton, Los Angeles Times
It’s Christmas in May and California Gov. Gavin Newsom is playing Santa Claus. The tree where all his gift-wrapped packages are piled is the state vault.
The vault is overflowing like never before.
Santa is flying around California promising expensive presents to voters who very likely will be deciding in a fall recall election whether to keep or toss him.
“It’s easier being Santa Claus than the Grim Reaper,” notes Democratic consultant Steve Maviglio, who was Gov. Gray Davis’ communications director when he was recalled in 2003 and replaced with Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger.
George Skelton
It s Christmas in May and California Gov. Gavin Newsom is playing Santa Claus. The tree where all his gift-wrapped packages are piled is the state vault.
The vault is overflowing like never before.
Santa is flying around California promising expensive presents to voters who very likely will be deciding in a fall recall election whether to keep or toss him.
Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Special offer: $1 for your first six months! It s easier being Santa Claus than the Grim Reaper, notes Democratic consultant Steve Maviglio, who was Gov. Gray Davis communications director when he was recalled in 2003 and replaced with Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger.
SACRAMENTO
It’s Christmas in May and Gov. Gavin Newsom is playing Santa Claus. The tree where all his gift-wrapped packages are piled is the state vault.
The vault is overflowing like never before.
Santa is flying around California promising expensive presents to voters who very likely will be deciding in a fall recall election whether to keep or toss him.
“It’s easier being Santa Claus than the Grim Reaper,” notes Democratic consultant Steve Maviglio, who was Gov. Gray Davis’ communications director when he was recalled in 2003 and replaced with Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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Davis was forced to play the Grim Reaper. That’s when the vault was draining and the state budget badly leaking red ink.