Newsom’s latest diaper giveaway comes with a massive taxpayer bill

Jimmy ParkerMay 9, 20260

Newsom’s newest freebie comes with a big bill

Gov. Gavin Newsom is rolling out another taxpayer-funded program and calling it a win for families. His new plan, “Golden State Start,” promises 400 free diapers to every baby born in California through participating hospitals, starting this summer. The state will work with the nonprofit Baby2Baby to hand out the diapers when parents leave the hospital. Newsom says every baby deserves a healthy start, which is a nice line, even if California taxpayers keep getting the invoice. The program will begin at about 65 to 75 hospitals, mostly ones that serve low-income families on Medi-Cal, before expanding statewide.

The state says families need help, but the math still matters

This is the latest in Newsom’s growing list of family-focused spending plans, which already includes free school meals and universal preschool for 4-year-olds. Supporters will say diapers are expensive, and that is true. Many families do struggle with the cost of infant supplies. But California is also running into a hard fiscal wall, and that matters too. The Associated Press reported that the state set aside $7.4 million in last year’s budget for the diaper rollout and wants another $12.5 million to carry it through June 2027. That may sound small in Sacramento terms, where “small” often means the size of a bridge loan, but every new program adds to the pile.

California’s budget picture keeps getting uglier

The state’s own analysts are warning that the long-term outlook is far worse than the official talking points. In January, the Legislative Analyst’s Office said California could face structural deficits of $20 billion to $35 billion a year over the next several years, even though the administration projected a $2.9 billion deficit for 2026-27. That is not a rounding error. It is the kind of gap that should make any serious leader pause before promising another round of “free” anything. California officials also say they want to pressure major diaper brands to lower prices, which is a familiar government move: announce a program, blame the market, and hope the spreadsheet does not catch up too fast.

Baby2Baby says diaper need is real

Baby2Baby, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit, will handle manufacturing and logistics for the program. The group says diaper need is widespread, with as many as one in two families struggling to afford them. Its co-CEOs called the partnership “historic” and praised Newsom for helping moms and babies during a vulnerable time. That may be true for the families who benefit, but there is still no such thing as a free diaper. The cost is simply shifted to the public, which is a favorite trick in blue-state budgeting. Tennessee and Delaware already launched diaper programs for families enrolled in Medicaid, with Tennessee offering 100 diapers per month and Delaware providing up to 80 diapers and one pack of wipes per week for the first 12 weeks.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/newsoms-golden-state-start-promises-400-free-diapers-per-baby-california-grapples-budget-woes

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