Newsom Orders Spending Freeze in Light of California’s $68 Billion Deficit

Published on December 15, 2023

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered a statewide spending freeze for all non-critical expenditures, according to a letter sent by the state’s finance department to heads of all departments. “This letter represents the Administration getting a head start on this process by directing state departments and agencies to place an immediate hold on any spending that isn’t directly associated with essential government operations in the current fiscal year,” H.D. Palmer, deputy director of the state’s finance department, told The Epoch Times by email Dec. 14. Such follows a recent report from the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office showing the state faces a $68 billion budget deficit that is expected to expand to $155 billion over the next three years....

Continue reading on website
Other news

Oklahoma Governor Orders Universities to Dismantle DEI Programs: ‘Take Politics out of Education’

December 15, 2023
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has issued an executive order mandating that public universities across the state review and dissolve “diversity, equity and inclusion” (DEI) positions and programs, which he called a waste of taxpayers’ money.The order (pdf), signed on Wednesday, requires all state agencies and institutions of higher education to not only report how much money their DEI efforts cost, but

School Board Accused of Contempt of Court for Violating Court Order to Reinstate Teachers

December 15, 2023
Attorneys for two California teachers have asked a U.S. district court to hold local school board officials and certain staff in contempt of court for allegedly defying a federal court order allowing the teachers to return to work.The teachers, Elizabeth Mirabelli and Lori Ann West, sued Escondido Union School District and Rincon Middle School in April over a policy regarding secret gender transit