Exemption In Cali Law Is Raising Eyebrows
Calls for a criminal investigation into California Governor Gavin Newsom are increasing after an explosive story published this week revealed a possible "crooked deal" between the governor and one of his top donors.
Bloomberg News reported that billionaire Greg Flynn, who owns thousands of restaurants including Panera Bread, was given a special exemption from a new minimum wage law that would have required him to pay his employees $20 per hour. This exemption was included in the legislation at the behest of Governor Newsom, who has a longstanding relationship with Flynn and has received significant donations from him in the past.
The Bloomberg report highlighted the numerous connections between Newsom and Flynn, including the fact that they attended the same high school and that Flynn has allegedly boasted about his easy access to the governor. Flynn has also purchased a resort managed by a company owned by Newsom. This close relationship between the two men has raised concerns about whether Newsom used his position to benefit a friend and donor, instead of serving the best interests of all Californians.
The exemption for Panera Bread was reportedly included in the legislation because the chain bakes and sells bread as a standalone item, which exempts it from the new law. However, this exemption has raised questions about why other fast-food chains, owned by different franchisees, were not given the same treatment. Some have suggested that Flynn's generous donations to Newsom's political campaigns may have influenced the governor's decision to push for this special carveout.
Republican Assemblyman Joe Patterson is calling for outside investigation into Gov. Newsom’s ties to billionaire Panera franchisee, even going as far to say the FBI should be involved.
Republican state lawmakers have no confidence in Dem super majority investigating itself pic.twitter.com/yj82LoIb47
— Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) February 29, 2024
Republican Assembly Leader James Gallagher was quick to condemn the reported deal, stating that it raises serious ethical concerns. He also questioned whether any franchisee could receive a similar exemption or if they would have to donate large sums of money to the governor's campaigns first. He called for an investigation into the matter, saying that this "crooked deal" must be looked into.
Another Republican lawmaker, Assemblyman Joe Patterson, went a step further and called for the involvement of the FBI in the investigation. He argued that with the Democrat supermajority in the state, an internal investigation would not be sufficient to uncover the truth behind this potentially corrupt deal.
Newsom's office has not yet responded to the reports and allegations, but the governor is facing mounting pressure to explain his ties to Flynn and the reasoning behind the exemption for Panera Bread. Political science professor and government ethics expert Dan Schnur emphasized the governor's obligation to provide an explanation for this seemingly preferential treatment. Schnur stated that without a clear explanation, voters would likely assume that Newsom used his position to benefit a major donor. This potential conflict of interest raises serious ethical concerns and warrants a thorough and impartial investigation.
The revelations about the relationship between Governor Newsom and Greg Flynn have sparked outrage and calls for action from both sides of the political aisle. It is essential that any investigation into this matter is conducted with transparency and impartiality to restore public trust in the integrity of California's government.
As the story continues to unfold, all eyes will be on Governor Newsom to see how he responds to these serious allegations and whether or not a criminal investigation will be launched.