Rep. Kiley Slams CA Government Over $450M 911 System Failure and Affordability Crisis

California's $450 Million 911 System Debacle

• 🚨 California's government is criticized for a "bewildering and completely unacceptable" failure in its next-generation 911 system project.
• 💰 Taxpayers funded an extra fee on phone service for six years, totaling $450 million, to build this system.
• 💡 The project has been scrapped because the technology does not work, leaving the state with an inadequate system and requiring a restart.
• 🎯 This failure is presented as an example of incompetence in government performance, rather than a partisan issue.

Declining Education Outcomes in California

• 📉 Education outcomes in California are described as bleak, with a jarring reminder from UC San Diego.
• 🎓 The number of students requiring remedial math courses at UC San Diego has surged from 1 in 100 to 1 in 8.
• 📊 This decline occurs despite a nearly $40 billion increase in the education budget since Governor Newsom took office.
• 📚 California also has the highest illiteracy rate in the country, highlighting systemic issues.
• 🚀 Reforms are advocated, citing successful models like KIPP and Success Academy, focusing on data-based instruction, literacy, math, school choice, and parental rights.

California's Affordability Crisis

• ⛽ California leads the nation in high gas prices, with costs significantly higher than other states, including Hawaii and Maryland.
• ⚡ The state also ranks number one for electricity costs, showing the largest increase in rates nationwide over recent years.
• 💧 Water bills are among the highest in the country, and housing costs are the highest in the continental U.S.
• 📈 Taxes are also a major burden, with California having the highest income tax and gas tax rates.
• 🏢 The state is rated as having the worst business environment and litigation environment, contributing to higher costs for consumers.
• ⚠️ Mismanagement of insurance issues, particularly fire insurance, and inadequate forest management policies exacerbate costs.

Lessons from California's Failures

• 🔄 The core lesson from California's affordability issues is to do the opposite of what the state has done.
• 💡 Policies involving excessive taxes, regulations, and special fuel blends drive up costs for energy and transportation.
• 🌳 Environmental policies, while well-intentioned, have led to catastrophic wildfires that negate emissions reductions and increase insurance costs.
• 🏘️ Piling on fees and allowing frivolous lawsuits significantly increase housing costs.
• 📉 California's high cost of living and low economic opportunity result in the highest real poverty rate and unemployment rate in the country.
• 🇺🇸 It is urged that Congress learn from California's failures to prevent similar cost increases nationwide.