Is Panera Bread Exempt Or Not? Behind Newsom’s ‘Pay to Play’ Allegations | Joe Patterson

In a recent interview, California Assemblyman Joe Patterson expressed concerns about possible undue special interest influence in legislation exempting certain businesses from the state’s minimum wage increase.

Patterson pointed to an exemption carved out for bread bakeries that appears tailored to benefit just one major donor to the Governor. While acknowledging that “sausage making” behind closed doors is normal in the legislative process, Patterson argued for greater transparency around negotiated exemptions and their public policy rationales.

The Governor’s evasiveness and failure to clearly explain the reasoning behind the bread bakery exemption has fueled speculation and eroded public trust, according to Patterson. An independent investigation could help restore confidence by establishing the facts surrounding this and other exemptions benefiting some of the Governor’s contributors.

Patterson advocated a nonpartisan probe to determine whether any improper quid pro quo occurred. However, he maintained an open mind, hoping the results would show “nothing wrong is happening here.” Overall, the Assemblyman emphasized restoring trust as paramount, through accountability and transparency in how special interests may influence California’s highest offices.

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