SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California lawmakers in the Assembly sent Gov. Gavin Newsom legislation he requested as part of a special session to bolster the state’s legal defenses and immigration services to fight President Donald Trump.
The measures passed on party-line votes, with Republicans attempting to force votes on changes to each proposal. The bills now head to Newsom for his signature.
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“Right now, Californians are being threatened from an out-of-control administration in Washington,” Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas said as he addressed the chamber. “It is our duty to rise to the moment.”
Republicans said the special legislative session was unnecessary and solely for political purposes.
“I feel bad for you that the governor would put you in this position,” said Assemblyman Joe Patterson, R-Rocklin. “Who’s going to benefit the most from this special session is Gavin Newsom.”
The first piece of legislation, SBX1-1, allows the California Department of Justice to use $25 million on legal fights with the Trump administration. It also creates a website to track lawsuits between the state and the Trump administration. During President Trump’s first term, California sued the administration 123 times.
“It’s unfortunate the minority portrays this as a partisan ploy or to protect politicians, this is about protecting people,” said Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zbur, D-Los Angeles, who noted the administration’s broad federal funding freezes could impact everyone, regardless of voter registration.
“California should be working with the President, not fighting him and suing him,” said Assemblyman Bill Essayli, R-Riverside. “Especially at a time when we’re asking for billions of dollars in aid, this is not going to look favorable upon us.”
Wait a minute did everyone on the Dem side miss the fact that the State is BILLIONS IN THE RED?
So now you want to spend $50 million for illegals?
Slick and the Dems are trying very very hard to shift the headlines from the Decades of Water and Fire Management FAILURE.
Bait and Switch.
And you would vote for them?
This is not a fight against Trump. It is a direct attack on the American voters who overwhelmingly voted POTUS to get the job done.