Newsom's $20M Diaper Program Draws Praise and Scrutiny

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the Golden State Start program that will provide 400 free diapers to every newborn at participating hospitals and directs $20 million in state funds to Baby2Baby.

Newsom said diaper costs have surged 45% since the pandemic and that one in four families skip meals to afford diapers, motivating the state to call the plan a first-in-the-nation effort.

Critics alleged a 'sweetheart' link to Newsom's network because Baby2Baby co-CEO Norah Weinstein sits on the board of Jennifer Siebel Newsom's California Partners Project, prompting scrutiny over how the nonprofit was chosen.

Peter Basios calculated the state would pay about $0.50 per diaper and called the plan 'peak government stupidity,' and Republican candidate Steve Hilton said it was three times more expensive than buying in stores.

Officials said the program will distribute 40 million diapers in its first year at about 65 to 75 hospitals and that the state set aside $7.4 million last year.