Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected sign the bill
California’s state legislature unanimously approved a bill to guarantee monthly income from taxpayers. It does not restrict the income of foster children or pregnant women, but it does provide for guaranteed monthly income. It is the first such bill in the country funding at the state level.
The $35 million measure was passed by the state senate 36-0 and the state assembly 64-0. It is now headed for Democratic governor. Gavin Newsom is expected to sign it. Given that he supported the plan in May, he is likely to sign it.
Scott Wilk, Senate Republican Leader, stated to the Associated Press that statistics for foster youth are “devastating”. “We should do everything we can to help these young people.”
Local organizations can apply for funding to distribute the funds. The state Department of Social Services will decide which groups receive the funding. Although the payment amounts are not known, similar programs in other parts of the country usually range between $500 and $1,000 per month for beneficiaries.
“Now there’s momentum, things are moving fast,” Michael Tubbs, an advisor for Newsom, said. Tubbs was the mayor of Stockton and instituted a guaranteed-income program. “The federal government is our next stop.”
California’s guaranteed income plan does not have any restrictions, unlike other government assistance programs. The funds can be simply loaded onto a credit card.
State Sen. Dave Cortese from San Jose, a Democrat, stated that “it changes the philosophy from big brother government knows best for you’.” “We have been extremely prescriptive in our approach to that population, both as a state as well as as counties. Take a look at the failures. They don’t even get their high school diplomas.
Cortese stated in a statement that he was excited about the opportunity for 40 million Californians to experience guaranteed income in their communities.
Although no legislator voted against California’s plan there was at least one person who doubted it in the state legislature. Bakersfield Republican Assemblyman Vince Fong said that guaranteed income programs “undermine incentives for work and increase dependence upon government,” but he did not vote on Thursday.
Fong stated to the media that “we should be pushing policies which encourage the value of labor.” “Guaranteed income does not provide the skills and job training required for upward mobility.