Multiple outlets report that California Governor Gavin Newsom’s budget includes funding for a taxpayer-funded official portrait of himself. The proposed amount is described as $33,000, which is set in the context of broader debates around state spending and California’s finances. Critics from both parties have raised concerns about the cost and the appropriateness of funding a portrait of a sitting governor, with some lawmakers characterizing the proposal as excessive. The criticism also aligns with reporting on an earlier, larger proposal involving honoring living former governors, including a $20 million plan that has drawn additional backlash from Democratic lawmakers. While the outlets focus on the controversy and lawmakers’ reactions, they generally agree on the central facts: the portrait funding appears in Newsom’s budget, it is intended to be paid for by taxpayers, and it faces immediate political pushback. The reports do not indicate that the portrait funding has been finalized or approved, but they describe the proposal as part of ongoing budget negotiations and public scrutiny over state expenditures.