Ro Khanna Leads Opposition to California Utility Bailout

The campaign, organized by the Every Fire Survivor's Network, targets a legislative push that critics claim limits the ability of victims to seek compensation from utility companies responsible for sparking fires. Former Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones and former Public Utilities Commission President Loretta Lynch have also signed the open letter, characterizing the move as a dangerous end-of-session deal for special interests.

Khanna argued that the state’s for-profit utilities, which reported billions in profits last year, do not require taxpayer or regulatory assistance. He highlighted the disparity between executive compensation packages and the needs of homeowners displaced by infrastructure failures, such as the Eaton fire. Chemerinsky echoed these concerns, cautioning that rushing complex policy changes through the legislature undermines legal fairness for those whose homes were destroyed by corporate negligence.

Consumer Watchdog has intensified the pressure by launching a statewide television and digital ad campaign. The spots specifically target the architects of the bailout, including Governor Newsom and several key legislators, urging the public to demand transparency before the session concludes.