Gov. Gavin Newsom signed his first bill, which will provide $131.3 million in immediate relief from the state’s general fund for emergencies such as a lack of clean drinking water, while surrounded by children at a Parlier elementary school – all of whom must drink from water bottles due to unsafe drinking fountains.

His signature on AB 72, which passed the Legislature unanimously, was briefly in jeopardy. Prior to signing, he polled the students at Riverview Elementary School on whether he should put pen to paper. One young man dissented.

“What is it?” Newsom said to the 6-year-old, dropping down to a knee to speak to him face-to-face. “It’s the money, isn’t it? You don’t want any new taxes. You wonder if we’ll just have to spend more money down the line.” Read more