‘Temporary’ in Sacramento-speak translates to ‘forever’ | Opinion
Sacramento politicians have perfected the art of selling voters on short-term promises that become long-term burdens.
And it’s happening again, with Gov. Gavin Newsom and his political allies seeking to dismantle the gold standard of citizen-led redistricting and pushing a “temporary” redistricting scheme. Their actions will override the citizen-led commission and lock in a partisan map until 2030.
It’s happened before — more than once. In 2012, voters approved Proposition 30, which promised temporary tax hikes. This measure introduced a quarter-cent sales tax and higher income tax rates for top earners, both of which were promised to have an expiration date. The Legislative Analyst’s Office made it clear to voters that these taxes were intended to sunset. However, four years later, Democrats in Sacramento promoted Proposition 55 to extend those “temporary” taxes for another 12 years — until 2030.
Once again, “temporary” became permanent.
In 2012, I predicted the high-speed rail to be “a colossal fiscal train wreck for California.” Thirteen years later, the high-speed rail project remains a colossal fiscal disaster and the biggest bait-and-switch sold to Californians by Democrats.
In 2008, voters were sold a pipe dream of a $33 billion bullet train from San Francisco to Los Angeles that would be operational by 2020, covering the distance in less than three hours. Today, the project’s cost estimate has ballooned to $128 billion, and the only segment under construction — from Bakersfield to Merced, a starter line — is not expected to carry passengers until 2032. In 2018, the state auditor raised red flags about the massive risks and cost overruns. Nearly two decades later, the “temporary” construction jobs and “shovel-ready” projects have become a permanent drain on our transportation dollars.
As vice chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, I have called on my colleagues to adopt a pragmatic approach: Terminate this pipe dream, cut our losses and use those funds to either lower the gas tax or invest in shovel-ready projects for Southern California to prepare for the World Cup and Olympic Games.
Sacramento politicians are at it again — this time gambling with our democracy. In 2008, California voters established the Citizens Redistricting Commission to take power away from politicians and ensure fair maps and fair representation. Now, Newsom is selling Proposition 50, which would “temporarily” replace the power of citizens to draw congressional districts with a partisan system to help Democrats.
They claim this is merely a one-time adjustment to fight “fire with fire,” but the buzz at the Capitol suggests they want to extend their redistricting scheme beyond 2030. California families know better, and I am sounding the alarm: Once politicians regain control of redistricting, they will not relinquish that power.
Fair districts lead to fair representation, which is why I have introduced Senate Joint Resolution 10, calling for the expansion of citizen-led redistricting commissions nationwide. I believe that independent commissions are the best safeguard against gerrymandering and political manipulation. Voters should choose their representatives — not the other way around.
More importantly, Californians deserve better; they deserve the truth — not “temporary” promises that later become permanent power grabs.
President Ronald Reagan once quipped, “Nothing lasts longer than a temporary government program.”
The pattern is clear: “Temporary” in Sacramento-speak translates to forever. What starts as a short-term idea becomes entrenched. Now, even our election maps risk becoming another casualty of Sacramento’s truth-in-advertising problem.
Until Sacramento politicians embrace truth in advertising, voters should treat every “temporary” claim as permanent.
Sen. Tony Strickland represents California Senate District 36, encompassing cities and communities in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
This story was originally published September 7, 2025 at 6:00 AM.