Incompetent or Corrupt? Corporations or Californians? Xavier Becerra Must Answer Tonight.

Becerra’s terrible week is about to roll onto the debate stage 

SAN FRANCISCO — In tonight’s final debate, with just 19 days left until election day, voters will be expecting clear answers from the candidates vying to be the state’s next chief executive on the issues that matter most: bringing down costs, expanding access to healthcare, and addressing California’s housing crisis.

Will voters get transparent, clear answers from Xavier Becerra? We doubt it.  

Becerra has had a terrible week, and today it got worse, with another one of his top aides pleading guilty on federal corruption charges, raising additional questions about what Becerra knew and when – and if he could be implicated in this case. 

Which brings us to our first of five things to watch for in tonight’s debate: 

1. **When Becerra says “case closed” – remember, it’s not.** Despite his best efforts to turn the page from his top aides’ federal corruption scandal, Becerra still hasn’t reassured voters that he will not be charged. New reporting today confirmed records exist showing his former top aide said Becerra “okayed” the illegal payments. And he’s changed his story about what he knew and when. Either he’s incompetent or corrupt – and, as Tom said earlier today, “Democrats cannot afford to wake up on June 3 and discover we’ve got a criminal on our hands.”
2. Speaking of no straight answers, Becerra still won’t say if he’s for or against single payer healthcare. After telling voters he supported single payer healthcare, Becerra told lobbyists he "wasn't supportive of single-payer" in a closed-door meeting — the same lobbyists who gave him a max-out contribution and are part of a coalition of forces fighting against single-payer. At last week’s debate, Becerra dodged the question 7 times. With health care costs in California soaring, voters need a leader who will stand up to Big Pharma and private insurance. Steyer has been a consistent champion of single-payer. It’s no surprise he has the support of frontline nurses.
3. Chevron’s champion at the pump and on stage. Last debate, Becerra said he’d support increasing drilling in California – no surprise given he’s accepted a maximum contribution from Chevron, who continues to price gouge Californians at the pump. With gas prices in California the highest in the nation, perhaps Chevron could work on lowering prices for Californians, not bankrolling Becerra’s campaign.
4. There’s only one candidate who will make corporations and billionaires pay their fair share….and it’s Steyer. Tom is the only candidate who has made it clear he would vote for the billionaire tax if it’s on the ballot. Every candidate on the debate stage has flat-out refused to support the measure. Tom is also the only candidate with a plan to close corporate tax loopholes to bring down costs for California families.
5. Tom is the only unbought candidate, and record-breaking forces are fighting against him. Expect Tom to continue calling out the utility monopolies, Big Oil, tech oligarchs, and other corporate special interests. They’re the ones funnelling over $27 million in independent expenditures to defeat him – the most that’s ever been spent against a candidate for governor.

The choice for voters tonight is clear: continue with status quo politicians beholden to the special interests, or Tom Steyer, a leader with the plans to take those interests on. While others side with the powerful, Steyer stands firmly with California families.

###