(INSIDE CALIFORNIA POLITICS) — When it comes to major issues facing the Golden State, Democrats have no one to blame but themselves. That’s what Central Valley Congressman Josh Harder told host Nikki Laurenzo on this week’s edition of Inside California Politics.
“California should look like a shining beacon of how great life looks like when you pay these high taxes and elect Democrats to a supermajority year after year, and it doesn’t,” Harder said. “All too often we’re a cautionary tale for voters across the country. Donald Trump comes to California and says ‘We don’t want the rest of the country to look like this,’ and a lot of voters in the Central Valley and across the state agree with him. That should be a motivation to fix things.”
Harder’s criticisms come days after he launched a new bipartisan caucus focused on pro-growth policies. According to Harder’s website, the Build America Caucus will prioritize affordable housing, infrastructure projects and clean energy. Harder said he started the caucus because he’s frustrated over the lack of results on new development in California.
“We consider ourselves the greenest state in America, and yet, where are people building wind projects? In Texas and Florida where they can actually get the permits to move those ahead, not in California where we’ve made it way too difficult to actually build clean energy,” Harder said. “So absolutely we need to own this, but more importantly, we need to fix it.”
Harder pointed to the state’s controversial high-speed rail project as an example of California failing to deliver on its promises, saying it’s been “a huge disappointment.” He also criticized Governor Gavin Newsom for trying to fast-track the Delta Conveyance Project, saying Sacramento politicians are “once again trying to pull a fast one” on the Central Valley.
“This project is not going to create a single gallon of new water for anybody across our state,” Harder said. “All its going to do is rob Peter to pay Paul. Take water from the Central Valley just to ship it down to Los Angeles.”
The interview also touched on President Trump’s tax cut and spending bill, potential cuts to Medicaid, former President Joe Biden’s health and the 2024 election. Inside California Politics airs this weekend during the following times:
- KTLA: Sunday, May 25 at 5:30 a.m.
- KRON: Saturday, May 24 at 6:30 p.m.
- KSEE: Saturday, May 24 at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 25 at 8:30 a.m.
- KSWB: Sunday, May 25 at 5:30 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
- KGET: Sunday, May 25 at 11:30 p.m.
- KTXL: Saturday, May 24 at 11:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 25 at 7:30 a.m.