Not so fast: California Republican says hiring Holder to fight Trump violates state constitution

Is it possible the common sense is written into the State Constitution?  Is it necessary to have a Member of the Assembly sue the State Assembly to enforce the State Constitution?  The legislative Democrats, using tax dollars hired the sleazy gun runner Eric Holder as the attorney “to fight Trump.  The leading Democrats forget the State Attorney Generals office has 1800 attorney to represent us with the Federal government.  We have 53 members of Congress and two U.S. Senators—plus an Attorney General, a Governor, various government agencies, 80 Members of the Assembly and 40 members of the State Senate.  Why pay $25,000 a month retainer to hire the one person responsible for police being in fear of preventing crime?

“But Mr. Kiley cited a court ruling that said the state Constitution forbids hiring outside consultants for roles that can be carried out “adequately and competently’ by those in the civil service, including work “defending California against federal actions.”

“In light of these facts, I respectfully ask your legal opinion as to whether the 1,592 attorneys and legal staff at the State Attorney General’s Office can perform ‘adequately and competently’ the legal services for which Covington & Burling has been retained by the Legislature,” said the Republican Kiley in his letter.

Actually, this more like a payoff to a Democrat law firm than a serious effort.  Why hire an unneeded attorney before anything is done in D.C.?  Corruption in California?  Look at the Democrat legislative super majority—thank you Prop. 14 for allowing this to happen.

Not so fast: California Republican says hiring Holder to fight Trump violates state constitution

By Valerie Richardson, The Washington Times, 1/12/17

A California GOP lawmaker is challenging the hiring of former U.S. Attorney Eric Holder to fight the Trump administration, saying it may violate the California Constitution.

Assemblyman Kevin Kiley has asked the California Attorney General’s office to investigate whether legislative Democrats ran afoul of the law by retaining Mr. Holder and his law firm, Covington & Burling, for $25,000 per month to do a job that can be performed by state employees.

Mr. Holder was hired last week by the California legislature, which is controlled by Democrats, as outside counsel to provide advice on “our efforts to resist any attempts to roll back the progress California has made” on issues such as climate change to immigration.

But Mr. Kiley cited a court ruling that said the state Constitution forbids hiring outside consultants for roles that can be carried out “adequately and competently’ by those in the civil service, including work “defending California against federal actions.”

“In light of these facts, I respectfully ask your legal opinion as to whether the 1,592 attorneys and legal staff at the State Attorney General’s Office can perform ‘adequately and competently’ the legal services for which Covington & Burling has been retained by the Legislature,” said the Republican Kiley in his letter.

Assembly Republican Leader Chad Mayes said he supports the inquiry, calling it “certainly appropriate to request a legal opinion as to whether this contract is consistent with state law.”