California Governor Gavin Newsom is under scrutiny for allegedly pushing for a special exemption in the state's fast-food worker bill that benefits a personal friend, billionaire Panera franchisee Greg Flynn. Critics, including Republican Assemblyman Joe Patterson, are calling for an external investigation into Newsom's actions, with some suggesting the FBI should be involved. Republican state lawmakers express no confidence in the Democratic supermajority's ability to investigate itself. The controversy, dubbed 'PaneraGate', centers around the exemption of businesses like Panera that bake and sell their own bread from the legislation, designed to improve conditions for fast-food workers. Assemblyman Chris Holden, the author of the law, has distanced himself from the final language that included the exemption, claiming he inherited it. Meanwhile, Flynn stated he did not request any special treatment and was surprised by the exemption. The situation has raised questions about the influence of political connections and campaign donations on legislative outcomes in California, especially as AG Bonta, urged to investigate, received the franchisee's most recent political contribution.
JUST IN: Panera franchisee Greg Flynn responds to reports about his ties to Newsom & exemption in new fast-food law. "At no time did I ask for an exemption or special considerations.. I was surprised when the exemption appeared." His full quote here: https://t.co/5OTN3UcAGh
Asked author of CA's landmark fast food wage law about optics of Panera/Newsom situation. "That's a question you'll have to have with others," he said. As GOP urges AG Bonta to investigate, Bonta received franchisee's most recent political contribution. https://t.co/5OTN3UcAGh
We’re calling on AG Bonta to investigate PaneraGate. The appearance that campaign donations influenced an official action impacting the livelihoods of countless Californians is deeply troubling. The public deserves to know the truth about the allegations of Governor Newsom’s… https://t.co/MrLyR1z0uZ
Panera—or any business—shouldn't survive or fail in California because of its connections in the halls of power. https://t.co/7efkMib1u4
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 https://t.co/yj82LoIb47
NEW: Assemblyman Chris Holden, author of California’s fast food worker law, says he did NOT negotiate it in its final stages in 2022, when Panera/bakery exemption was added. He tried to say he inherited the language. But he was the author when carve out was added. Watch: https://t.co/GdvKwkRWMS
A bad look for Newsom, he has to be better than this (but can you really be favor-less when it's not your own money powering your presidential ambitions?) https://t.co/O5Ht1xLLkx
When Gov. Newsom signed the fast-food worker bill, I asked him why Panera + other spots that bake/sell their own bread were carved out. "It was a part of the sausage making," he said at the time. Bloomberg reports there may have been more to that. https://t.co/fEAdUn9mwd
I guarantee Newsom's dirty. Look at all the special treatment he's given Musk. https://t.co/Ldw8LWjcRZ
Restaurant owners should not need to be friends with politicians to be able to run their business as they please. But that's how things seem to work now in California. New from me @NRO https://t.co/rpfAh1BFaP
California Gov. Gavin Newsom reportedly pushed for a special exemption that benefits his personal friend while throwing other businesses (and consumers) under the bus. https://t.co/7efkMibzjC
Ah, dishing out exemptions like AB5–but with a bread clause. Policies SO good, they need exemptions. California in a nutshell. Newsom’s friends don’t have to suffer the consequences of his policies if they ask nicely, but the rest of the Golden State must comply. https://t.co/Wg6kS5vgdV