In a typically absurd move from the California Democrats, state senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas introduced a bill to decriminalize welfare fraud across the state. When a transcript of the bill was posted to social media, conservatives expressed their frustration in a flurry of hilarious comments.
For context, California is one of the most left-wing states in the union, and has been swamped with endemic crime and homelessness for years. Recently, cities such as San Francisco have decriminalized theft under $1000, which has produced a massive crime wave.
In any case, the story was broken by Fox News reporter Bill Melugin, who posted his reaction to X on April 28, 2025. He said, “NEW: California Democrat state senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas has introduced SB560, a bill that would decriminalize welfare fraud below an amount of $25,000. It would also prohibit prosecutions for attempted welfare fraud and would prohibit someone from being charged w/ perjury if they are subject to prosecution for welfare fraud.”
Providing additional context, he included a partial transcript of the bill, which exposed the woke insanity it contained. Starting off, the document stated, “This bill would delete the provision that establishes criminal penalties for an attempt to commit welfare fraud. The bill would delete criminal penalties for welfare fraud when the total amount of aid obtained or retained is above $950, and instead make welfare fraud when aid was obtained or retained in the total amount of $25,000 or more punishable by specific imprisonment and fine.”
Continuing, Smallwood-Cuevas’ bill sought to restrict even more anti-fraud regulations. The proposed law read, “The bill would prohibit criminal prosecution for an overpayment or overissuance of benefits obtained under various specified public social services programs, except as specified or as required by federal law. The bill would prohibit a person from being charged with perjury solely on a statement of aid, if they are subject to prosecution or overissuance pursuant to these provisions.”
In the comments under Melugin’s post, users jumped in with their outraged reactions, One such comment joked, “I think that anyone who commits less than 5 drive-by shootings in a single year should not be prosecuted and if you are a member of a protected minority, then you can shoot as many people as you want with no penalty.”
Building on this point, many social media users blasted the short-sighted laws that define California. One comment in this vein read, “Every sane Californian needs to bring everybody they know to vote for Republicans up and down the ballot in 2026. When are we going to say enough is ENOUGH?” Another comment added, “California is such a lost state. What are they gonna do when they have no more taxpayers and nothing but debt?”
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Rounding out the comments, many users expressed suspicion over her motivations. A commenter wrote, “Decriminalize fraud!?! 😂 That worked well when they decriminalized shoplifting. Look at San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Lovely places now, aren’t they?” Another declared, “She needs to be investigated at the very least. She is connected to someone doing this. Welfare fraud is so rampant, the penalties should be far worse than they are now.”