SACRAMENTO— A group of Republican lawmakers introduced more than a dozen bills to combat California’s worsening homeless crisis March 16, a problem they say the state’s Democrats have inadequately addressed as billions of taxpayer dollars have been spent and the homeless population continues to grow. Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (R-Yuba City), Assemblywoman Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-Santa Clarita), and Sens. Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel), Brian Jones (R-Santee), Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita), and other members in the legislature told reporters outside of the Capitol that their legislative package aims to tackle the root of homelessness with a strategy emphasizing accountability, mental health, and substance abuse. “We must combine compassion with accountability,” Gallagher said. “No more pricey programs that don’t get results.” Over the last three years, California has spent $13 billion on homelessness, according to a February 2021 state audit report. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced in January that …