California Governor Gavin Newsom and his cronies in the state legislature recently passed a new law raising the minimum wage to $20 per hour. However, upon closer examination, it appears that there may be some dubious dealings at play. BNN Bloomberg has reported that an odd and highly specific exemption in the law benefits the Panera Bread chain, which is owned by billionaire Greg Flynn, a major donor to Newsom’s political campaigns.
The loophole in question exempts chains that solely sell baked goods from having to raise their minimum wage. This exemption seems strangely tailored to benefit Panera Bread, which is known for its bread-based menu items. It’s suspiciously similar to Georgia exempting chains that sell chicken sandwiches and have a popular cow mascot from their minimum wage increase. The specificity of the exemption raises red flags and prompts questions about the true motivations behind the law.
As it turns out, Flynn and Newsom have a longstanding personal and political relationship. Flynn has been a friend of Newsom’s since high school and has been a major donor to his campaigns since at least 2014. In a recent op-ed for the Capitol Weekly, Flynn even argued against the minimum wage bill, signaling his opposition to the very law that now benefits his business.
This raises serious concerns about the possibility of corruption or favoritism in the making of this law. It’s not a stretch to question whether Newsom pushed for the exemption to keep his powerful donor happy and maintain their mutually beneficial relationship. Not only does this call into question the integrity of Newsom and his administration, but it also casts doubt on the fairness and effectiveness of the law itself.
Even industry insiders are perplexed by the bread-baking exemption. Michelle Korsmo, head of the National Restaurant Association, expressed confusion and skepticism at the suspiciously tailored exemption. It’s not difficult to see why. The exemption seems to serve no purpose other than to benefit one specific business and its wealthy owner, who happens to be a major political ally of the governor. It begs the question: What other laws or regulations have been passed in California for the benefit of Newsom’s friends and donors?
Unfortunately, this is just the latest example of Newsom’s questionable actions and lack of accountability. From his hypocritical French Laundry dinner during his own COVID-19 lockdowns to his approval of zoning laws that benefit his wealthy Marin County neighbors, Newsom has consistently shown a disregard for the well-being of all Californians, preferring to prioritize his own interests and those of his inner circle.
Major Gavin Newsom donor benefitting from California $20 minimum wage exemption pushed by governor: reporthttps://t.co/S6ke89OvjJ
— Catnip (@cathy54covell) February 29, 2024
This pattern of behavior is deeply concerning and should not be tolerated by the people of California. It’s clear that Newsom is more interested in playing favorites and lining his own pockets than in truly serving and representing the best interests of his constituents. It’s time for the people of California to hold him accountable and demand transparency and integrity from their leader. The bread-baking exemption is just one small piece of a much larger problem within California’s leadership, and it’s time for a change.