A new poll shows two-thirds of Californians oppose Newsom's ban on gas cars, which he imposed without a vote of any kind. Fortunately, my Resolution overturning the ban passed with bipartisan support and is now law. The will of the people prevailed.

Now, Newsom is at it again. His new healthcare tax - which will raise premiums by up to $400 - directly violates a proposition passed overwhelmingly by California voters. I lit into Newsom on the House Floor for this double blow to affordability and democracy.

The good news is we can stop him again. This new tax increase requires federal approval, and I am leading a delegation letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Sources with a simple message: deny Newsom's massive tax hike.

Meanwhile, you may recall Californians had to pay a fee on our phone bill for years to fund a new 911 system. Newsom collected these fees, spent $450 million, then decided the design wouldn't work and scrapped it. We called for a called for a federal investigation, which is underway.

Now, it's gotten worse. We've learned the state is spending another $194 million on a "bridge" contract to maintain service while they try to figure out a new design. This kind of waste is why California taxpayers pay the most yet get the least in return.

In a positive turn, following the hearing I chaired on the alarming lowering of standards in our schools, the UC system has announced it is looking to change course and bring back the SAT and ACT in admissions. I've just written to the UC President asking that this happen immediately. 

Elsewhere, I introduced the Biomass Facility Construction Act to build more facilities that take in ladder fuels from our forests and reduce fire risk; I gave a speech at the Democracy Awards that you can watch here; and on CNN I spoke to the lack of basic competence in our state.

Richard Pan, meanwhile? Nowhere to be seen, hiding from voters.

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