SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers returned to the state Capitol on Monday to start a particular session to defend the state’s progressive insurance policies forward of one other Trump presidency.
The Democratic governor, a fierce critic of President-elect Donald Trump, is positioning California to as soon as once more be the middle of a resistance effort in opposition to the conservative agenda. He’s asking his Democratic allies within the Legislature, who maintain supermajorities in each chambers, to approve further funding to the legal professional normal’s workplace to organize for a strong authorized struggle in opposition to anticipated federal challenges.
Democratic Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel on Monday launched laws to put aside $25 million for authorized charges to reply to potential assaults by the Trump administration on state insurance policies relating to civil rights, local weather change, immigration and abortion entry.
“While we always hope to collaborate with our federal partners, California will be ready to vigorously defend our interests and values from any unlawful action by the incoming Trump Administration,” Gabriel mentioned in an announcement.
California sued the primary Trump administration greater than 120 instances to numerous ranges of success.
“We’re not going to be caught flat-footed,” Newsom mentioned at a latest information convention.
Trump usually depicts California as representing all he sees improper in America. Democrats, which maintain each statewide workplace in California and have commanding margins within the Legislature and congressional delegation, outnumber registered Republicans by practically 2-to-1 statewide.
Trump known as the Democratic governor “New-scum” throughout a marketing campaign cease in Southern California and has relentlessly lambasted the Democratic stronghold over its massive variety of immigrants within the U.S. illegally, homeless inhabitants and thicket of rules.
Trump additionally waded right into a water rights battle over the endangered delta smelt, a tiny fish that has pitted environmentalists in opposition to farmers and threatened to withhold federal support to a state more and more beneath menace from wildfires. He additionally vowed to comply with by way of together with his marketing campaign promise of finishing up the mass deportation of immigrants with out authorized standing and prosecuting his political enemies.
Earlier than the particular session begins, state lawmakers are scheduled to swear in additional than two dozen new members and elect leaders for the 2025 legislative session. Lots of of individuals are also planning to march across the Capitol on Monday to induce the Legislature to attempt to cease Trump’s mass deportation plans.
State Lawyer Basic Rob Bonta mentioned his workplace will defend the state’s immigration inhabitants, whereas Newsom final week unveiled a proposal to revive a rebate program for electrical car purchases if the incoming Trump administration eliminates a federal tax credit score for individuals who purchase electrical automobiles. Newsom can also be contemplating creating a backup catastrophe aid fund for the wildfire-prone state after Trump’s threats.
Republican lawmakers blasted Newsom and his Democratic allies over the particular session. Rep. Vince Fong, who represents the state’s Central Valley farm belt, mentioned California ought to work with the incoming Trump administration as a substitute.
“Gavin Newsom’s actions are tone-deaf to the concerns of Californians who disapprove of the direction of our state and country,” Fong mentioned in a video on social media.
Legislators are also anticipated to spend the 12 months discussing methods to guard dozens of legal guidelines anticipated to be focused by the Trump administration, together with one which has made the state a sanctuary for individuals looking for abortions who dwell in states the place such practices have been severely restricted.
California, the nation’s most populous state, was the primary to mandate that by 2035 all new automobiles, pickup vehicles and SUVs bought in California be electrical, hydrogen-powered or plug-in hybrids. The state additionally extends state-funded well being care to all low-income residents no matter their immigration standing.
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Newsom hasn’t supplied particulars about what actions the lawmakers will take into account however mentioned he wished funding in place earlier than Trump’s inauguration day, Jan. 20. The state spent roughly $42 million in litigation prices through the first Trump administration, officers mentioned.
California is projected to face a $2 billion funds deficit subsequent 12 months, with larger shortfalls forward. Gabriel, who sued the primary Trump administration in 2017 when it tried to finish a program to defend younger immigrants from being deported, mentioned lining up the funding now could be “a wise investment.”
California efficiently clawed again $57 million between 2017 and 2018 after prevailing in a lawsuit to dam the Trump administration from placing immigration enforcement situations on sure federal regulation enforcement grants. One other authorized victory over the citizenship query within the 2020 census pressured the federal authorities to return $850,000 to the state, in keeping with the legal professional normal’s workplace.
“We are positioned, if necessary, to be the tip of the spear of the resistance and to push back against any unlawful or unconstitutional actions by the Trump administration,” mentioned Gabriel, who chairs the funds committee.
Throughout Trump’s first presidency, Democratic attorneys normal banded collectively to file lawsuits over immigration, Trump’s journey ban for residents of Muslim international locations, the surroundings, immigration and different subjects. However Trump has one doable benefit this time round: He was aggressive in nominating conservative jurists to federal courts in any respect ranges, together with the Supreme Courtroom.
