If any government were in desperate need of a DOGE effort, it’s California. The bloated budget, wasteful public works projects and inefficient government programs are all screaming for attention.
The federal Department of Government Efficiency has become famous — and certainly infamous in some minds — for its efforts to root out waste, uncover fraud, cut down bureaucratic barriers and save taxpayers money.
It would take no miracles for a DOGE-like agency or department to find tens of billions of dollars of waste and fraud, as well as bureaucratic excess. It would merely require a dedicated effort.
Gov. Gavin Newsom often claims California is not a high-tax state. “So, this notion of even being a high tax state is B.S.,” Newsom podcasted in March. “Sixteen states tax their poorest residents more than we tax our top 1%.” But does anyone believe that? I mean, big if true. But, sadly, it’s not.
California is at or near the top of most meaningful tax rate measures. California has the highest marginal income tax rate in the country.
