California's No Bid Epidemic: A Pattern of Deception and Exemption The controversy surrounding Governor Gavin Newsom's diaper deal has exposed a far more entrenched problem: California's habit of awarding billions in state contracts without transparency or accountability.
The Baby2Baby contract, touted as a competitive bid process, was actually no bid – a fact that would have remained hidden if not for public pressure.
A closer look at California's 2026 budget reveals over two dozen similar exemptions totaling more than $1 billion in appropriations.