California Assembly Bill 2660 sought to address a disturbing problem — a lack of clear and consistent data on dying children — with a straightforward solution: requiring officials to review and report such deaths. Not surprisingly, it sailed through the state Legislature without a single no vote from either party or chamber.
More surprisingly, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed it. Also unexpected was his stated reason: hard-nosed dedication to fiscal austerity.
Sure, the governor supports the goal of figuring out why California’s kids are dying, he wrote in his veto message. It’s just, you know, the money.
