Claim: Jerry Brown called California tax payers freeloaders
Fact: It’s not 100% clear who the “freeloader” comment was directed to. Given the topical order of the article, it seems almost certain he was referring to GOP opponents.
In a recent visit to Orange County (CA) California Governer Jerry Brown defended a gas tax and local legislator. A single quote (“The freeloaders — I’ve had enough of them”) has spurned the outrage of several right-leaning websites, under the assumption that the comment pertains to California tax payers. Since neither video nor transcript seem available, the Orange County Register article seems to be the main source available. Given then order of the content, it seems more likely that Brown is referring to Republican opponents, not citizen taxpayers.
Republicans says budget cuts should be made to fund road maintenance. A failed GOP plan proposed last year would have tapped into cap-and-trade money used to lower greenhouse gas emissions, cut Caltrans positions and eliminated other positions that have been vacant. It identifies other funding sources, but doesn’t specify what programs would be cut if that money was diverted to roads.
Brown said the plan is unrealistic.
“The freeloaders — I’ve had enough of them,” Brown said, adding that the approved tax and fee hikes bring those charges to the level they were 30 years ago if adjusted for inflation. “They have a president that doesn’t tell the truth and they’re following suit.”
Newman will have campaign resources to prevail in a recall should the measure qualify for the ballot, Brown said.
“He’ll have whatever he needs,” he said.
Note the order of topics.
1-Republican/GOP opposition
2-Republican alternative
3-Jerry Brown’s freeloader comment
4-Jerry Brown refers to Donald Trump as their president.
Hence, it seems almost certain that Brown was referring to his political opposition, not everyday California tax payers. Now, note how RedState.com givers an alternative order, in order to support their claim that the comment was leveled at CA tax payers.
Redstate claims the comment was in response to “taxpayers who were blindsided by the massive increase,” despite no evidence.
Then from here, the quote is inaccurately published throughout right wing political websites, few (if any) of which link to the original OC Register article, where readers can read the primary source available for the quote.
