Michael Hiltzik: Uber, Lyft and Doordash will spend $90 million to avoid paying their drivers better

Uber, Lyft and Doordash believe in putting their money where their mouth is.

For months, they and other gig economy companies have been trying to talk the California Legislature out of passing a bill that would strengthen employment protections for their drivers. Now, with the bill on the verge of final passage and a solid endorsement from Gov. Gavin Newsom on Labor Day, the time for talk seems to have passed.

Accordingly, the three companies have contributed a combined $90 million - or $30 million each - to back a ballot initiative that would protect them from having to classify their drivers as employees.

Let's put that in perspective. A $90-million war chest would make the firms' initiative campaign