Three Bad Bills Passed in 2026 (Including More High Speed Rail money!) That Show Everything Wrong with Sacramento
While California families continue to struggle with the nation's highest cost of living, the Democratic supermajority in Sacramento spent 2026 advancing policies that expand government, increase costs on taxpayers, and shift even more financial burdens onto working families.
Three bills in particular highlight the direction Sacramento is taking California.
AB 103: The Bloated Budget
AB 103 continued a pattern that has become all too familiar in California: record spending with little accountability for results. Critics point to billions in taxpayer dollars flowing toward programs that have repeatedly exceeded budgets or failed to deliver promised outcomes.
Among the concerns raised were additional funding for the troubled High-Speed Rail project, increased government payroll obligations, and billions in taxpayer-funded benefits at a time when California is facing serious fiscal challenges. Despite these concerns, My opponent, Gail Pellerin, voted yes on AB 103 when it passed the Assembly.
SB 113: The Political Slush Fund Budget Bill
SB 113 became a symbol of everything many Californians dislike about Sacramento's budget process: massive spending packages moved quickly through the Legislature with little public scrutiny.
Critics argued that the bill directed taxpayer dollars toward politically connected organizations while Californians faced rising housing costs, public safety concerns, failing infrastructure, and persistent homelessness. Rather than focusing on core government responsibilities, opponents contend the bill prioritized special-interest spending. My opponent, Gail Pellerin, voted in favor of SB 113.
SB 922: The Hidden Road Tax Bill
Californians already pay among the highest gas taxes and vehicle fees in the country. Yet SB 922 opens the door for local governments to recover road maintenance and repair costs through utility bills, trash collection fees, and other public service charges rather than relying solely on transportation taxes already collected from drivers. The bill explicitly authorizes fees and surcharges associated with street maintenance and repair costs related to public services.
Critics call it a hidden road tax because the costs could show up on monthly household bills instead of as a direct tax increase. And again, Gail Pellerin voted yes on SB 922.
The Bigger Picture
Taken together, AB 103, SB 113, and SB 922 tell a larger story about Sacramento's priorities. Instead of controlling spending, demanding accountability, and finding ways to make life more affordable, the Democratic supermajority continues to expand government, approve massive spending packages, and create new ways to collect money from taxpayers.
Californians deserve a government that lives within its means, fixes roads with the taxes drivers already pay, focuses on core services, and treats every taxpayer dollar as if it came from their own pocket. Until that happens, families will continue footing the bill for Sacramento's spending habits.
TIME TO VOTE THEM OUT!!