In abstract
Newsom needs the brand new Legislature to ‘protect’ California from Donald Trump on civil rights, reproductive freedom, local weather motion, and immigrant households. The session will begin Dec. 2.
Gov. Gavin Newsom in the present day known as newly elected state lawmakers to work as quickly as they’re sworn in on Dec. 2 for a particular session to “safeguard California values” because the state prepares — once more — to be a liberal antagonist to the upcoming Trump administration.
In different phrases: Gear up for lawsuits.
In a proclamation declaring the particular sessionNewsom stated he needs the Legislature to approve funding for the Division of Justice and different state businesses to “immediately file affirmative litigation.”
In line with a senior legislative supply, the particular session is meant to be narrowly targeted on offering authorized sources to the lawyer basic’s workplace — maybe as a lot as $100 million — to struggle the Trump administration. The aim is to applicable the cash earlier than Trump is sworn in on Jan. 20, although given what number of new members are becoming a member of the Legislature, they might not be able to act till early January.
As priorities for California’s opposition, Newsom listed civil and reproductive rights, local weather change, President-elect Donald Trump’s threats to withhold catastrophe aid {dollars} and the potential repeal of deportation protections for immigrants who had been dropped at the nation with out authorization as kids.
“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack — and we won’t sit idle,” Newsom stated in a press release. “California has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond.”
Each Democratic leaders within the Legislature and the Senate Funds Committee chairperson are on board, issuing statements of help alongside Newsom’s proclamation. The particular session would begin Dec. 2 when the brand new Legislature convenes, although lawmakers wouldn’t essentially move any payments instantly.
“Voters sent a clear message this election, and we need to lean-in and listen,” stated Meeting Speaker Robert Rivasa Hollister Democrat. “But we also must be prepared to defend California values, no matter the challenges ahead, so it makes sense to consider the Governor’s proposal.”
Republican lawmakers rapidly denounced the governor’s order as divisive political theater that does nothing to handle the true issues dealing with Californians and merely boosts what many interpret as Newsom’s personal future presidential aspirations.
Meeting Republican chief James Gallagher known as the session a “shameless political stunt.” “The only ‘problem’ it will solve is Gavin Newsom’s insecurity that not enough people are paying attention to him,” he stated in a press release. “There will not be a single policy implemented in this special session that couldn’t be addressed when the Legislature reconvenes in January.”
Lawyer Common Rob Bonta informed CalMatters final week that his workplace is already writing authorized briefs in preparation for lawsuits towards potential Republican makes an attempt to ban abortion nationwide, overturn California’s dedication to zero-emission autos and repeal the Deferred Motion for Childhood Arrivals program for immigrants. Over the last Trump administration, California sued the federal authorities greater than 100 instances over its laws.
That is the third particular session that Newsom has known as since October 2022. The 2 earlier ones targeted on fuel costs and the oil businesstogether with one that simply wrapped up final month.
