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Newsom Vetoes Firefighter Pay Raise Amid Budget Strain

10/10/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Newsom vetoed a bipartisan bill to raise firefighter salaries, citing cost pressures on the state budget.
The veto followed California’s costliest wildfire, which devastated Los Angeles and raised firefighter-pay concerns.
The bill would have aligned Cal Fire salaries within 15% of local departments, costing $373M–$609M in year one.
Newsom’s veto letter stressed collective bargaining; unions expressed disappointment at a fallen-firefighters memorial.

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Story summary

Newsom vetoed a bipartisan bill to raise firefighter salaries, citing cost pressures on the state budget.
The veto followed California’s costliest wildfire, which devastated Los Angeles and raised firefighter-pay concerns.
The bill would have aligned Cal Fire salaries within 15% of local departments, costing $373M–$609M in year one.
Newsom’s veto letter stressed collective bargaining; unions expressed disappointment at a fallen-firefighters memorial.