Who pays for Newsom's travel? Hint: It's not always taxpayers

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SACRAMENTO — Gov.Gavin Newsom sat onstage at the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Friday and described one of the primary ways he is responding as the Trump administration shifts federal climate priorities.

“I’m showing up,” he said.In recent months, that has meant trips to Brazil, Switzerland and now Germany, where he has repeatedly positioned California as a global climate partner.The travel has also revived a recurring question from critics and watchdog groups: Who pays for those trips?In many cases, the costs are not borne by taxpayers.

The governor’s office said his international travel is paid for by the California State Protocol Foundation, a nonprofit that is funded primarily by corporate donations and run by a board Newsom appoints.For decades, California governors have relied on nonprofits to pick up the tab for official travel, diplomatic events and other costs that would otherwise be paid with taxpayer funds.

California newsom speaks at global security conference“The Foundation’s mission is to lessen the burden on California taxpayers by reimbursing appropriate expenses associated with advancing the state’s economic and diplomatic interests,” said Jason Elliott, a former high-ranking advisor to Newsom, who the governor added to the foundation’s board.While the arrangement helps the state’s pocketbook, critics say it is another avenue for corporate interests to gain influence.“The problem with the protocol foundation and others like it is that donors to these foundations receive access to the politicians whose travel they fund,” said Carmen Balber, executive director of the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog.The protocol foundation was created as a tax-exempt charity during Republican Gov.Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration in 2004.

Similar nonprofits have existed since Gov.George Deukmejian created one in the 1980s.

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