In the heat of progressive virtue-signalling over sexual identity issues, California issued travel prohibiting state-funded and state-sponsored travel to literally over half the country.
AlabamaArizonaArkansasFloridaGeorgiaIdahoIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahWest VirginiaWyoming
Now, California Governor Gavin Newsom has quietly rescinded those bans.
A California law banning publicly funded travel to states with laws that discriminate against LGBTQ people is no longer active under legislation signed Wednesday by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.California’s Senate Bill 447, also known as the BRIDGE Project, officially repeals a 2016 law that prohibited the state from sponsoring travel to states with laws in place that discriminate “on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.”At the time of the BRIDGE Project’s passage, the number of states subject to California’s ban was an unprecedented 26, preventing state workers — including university professors and elected officials — from visiting more than half the country on state-sponsored trips.
The reason is that the bill has not worked, as most states have passed legislation that does not meet the approval of the Sacramento political class.
“If something is not working, I think it’s imperative on us to be able to switch gears and maybe try a new California initiative that’s going to be able to have a better and more positive impact,” Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego) said as the bill passed the Assembly without debate earlier this week.
The new bill is intended to allow “enlightened” Californians to bring the “inclusive” message to the heathen Red States. The hectoring will be in the form of a $5 million media campaign mandated by the new bill.
SB 447 was the brainchild of Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego. Atkins, who is a lesbian, has described growing up feeling isolated and alone. She has said that SB 447 is intended to help others not have to go through that experience.“There’s so much hate, so much hurt, so much harm being inflicted on people who are just trying to live their authentic lives,” Atkins said in a statement. “…We will be the bridge to a more understanding and compassionate nation.”
However, the real reason may be that Newsom has been called out for traveling to banned states supporting the Biden administration. His summer trip to Montana in 2022 was one of many examples of the rules not applying to the politically powerful.
Many have speculated Newsom may be a 2024 contender, especially in light of Biden’s sinking poll numbers. However, the California governor is just as likely to act as a surrogate candidate as the current occupant of the Oval Office will be campaigning again from his Delaware basement.
Over the past four months, Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor of California, has traveled to six Republican-led states. He has goaded Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Republican presidential candidate from Florida, to debate on Fox News. He has assembled a small staff of political advisers and created a political action committee to distribute $10 million to Democratic causes and candidates.And this week, he raised $40,000 for a long-shot candidate for the United States Senate in Tennessee, one of the red states he has criticized his own party for neglecting.By all appearances, Mr. Newsom is a man with an eye on the White House, building a national network of supporters and accumulating the kind of good will among donors, party operatives and voters that could prove critical should he decide to move beyond Sacramento. Mr. Newsom said in an interview that he was not running for president, and that the time has come for Democrats to rally around President Biden.“The train has left the station,” Mr. Newsom said. “We’re all in. Stop talking. He’s not going anywhere. It’s time for all of us to get on the train and buck up.”
Interestingly, Newsom used the train analogy…but I digress.
Newsom is now free and clear to travel to all the Red States. What is not being reported is the sadness in 26 states that had enjoyed the respite from California crazy.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY