California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic lawmakers have reportedly reached an agreement to utilize $50 million to battle the incoming Trump administration.
Meanwhile, California residents continue to face devastation in the wake of raging fires.
“Half the money would go to fending off any mass deportation plan the new president might enact early in his administration,” POLITICO reports.
The other half is to go towards shoring up local legal defenses.
Are you freaking kidding me!!
$50 million wasted to Trump proof California. Let’s not forget, Scott Wiener was is behind this too.
This while California is burning to the ground and lives are lost. https://t.co/mTB4kcixfi
— Yvette Corkrean for CA Senate (@yvettecorkrean) January 13, 2025
News: CA legislative leaders and Gov. Gavin Newsom have struck a $50M deal to Trump-proof CA, 2 people w/ knowledge tell @lindseymholden and me. Sets aside $25M for the state DOJ to carry out federal litigation, plus $25M in grants for immigration legal services/support groups.
— Blake Jones (@jonesblakej) January 12, 2025
From POLITICO:
The move — the first of its kind in the nation that positions California to lead a second term resistance against Donald Trump — comes as Republicans bash state Democratic leaders for focusing on a the highly partisan issue even as the southern part of the state suffers from historically devastating fires.
ADVERTISEMENTThe deal includes $25 million Newsom had proposed for the state Department of Justice to fight the federal government in court shortly after Trump’s reelection in November — plus $25 million more proposed by state Senate leaders to defend immigrants against deportation, detention and wage theft. The $25 million proposed by the Senate would fund grants for legal nonprofits and immigration support centers.
“This funding agreement cements California’s readiness to serve as a bulwark against Trump’s extremist agenda,” said Senate Budget Chair Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat who’s expressed interest in one day replacing Rep. Nancy Pelosi, in a statement.
Floor votes on the so-called special session package could come as soon as this week. That would give Newsom time to sign the deal before Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20 and shift focus away from the session’s partisan feud to how Democrats are responding to the unfolding disaster in Los Angeles.
Republican state lawmakers criticized Democrats for their backward priorities and being disconnected from the needs of constituents.
“At a time when California should be laser-focused on responding to the devastating wildfires in LA, Democrat lawmakers’ priority is creating a $50 million slush fund to hire government lawyers for hypothetical fights against the federal government and to defend criminal illegal immigrants from being returned to their home countries,” Republican Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher said, according to KCRA 3.
“The disconnect between what Californians need and what Democrats are focused on is astounding,” Gallagher added.
Not $50M to fight fires, through mitigation or prevention measures, but to fight Trump and prevent those who have broken the law from facing the consequences of their actions. Unreal.
Newsom, California Dems Reach $50M Deal To Fight Trump As L.A. Burnshttps://t.co/aioBmQVvvQ
— J.B. Starkiller (@GNKclinkclunk) January 13, 2025
Per KCRA 3:
California lawmakers on Monday postponed the first hearing on a set of proposals meant to prepare the state for legal battles with President-elect Donald Trump and his administration.
Multiple sources told KCRA 3 that the hearing originally scheduled for Tuesday morning in the Assembly Budget Committee would be postponed until further notice. The chairman of that committee, Democratic Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, represents a district that is under evacuation orders and impacted by the wildfires in Southern California.
ADVERTISEMENTOn Friday, lawmakers in the State Senate and Assembly quietly made adjustments to the Trump-related legislation. They added a proposed, new website to track the expected lawsuits between California and the Trump administration, new rules around the use of the extra $25 million for the California Department of Justice to fight the legal battles, and a new, proposed $25 million in grants for immigration support and legal services. The proposals were placed into the special session bills, ABX1-1 and ABX1-2.
The new proposals were added as wildfires continued to ravage Los Angeles and on the same day Gov. Gavin Newsom sent a letter to Trump, inviting him to tour wildfire devastation. In the letter the governor wrote, “Hundreds of thousands of Americans — displaced from their homes and fearful for the future — deserve to see all of us working in their best interests to ensure a fast recovery and rebuild.”
Neither Newsom, Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire, nor Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas issued a press release on the updated Trump-related special session proposals. Democratic State Senator Scott Wiener sent a press release Monday morning after numerous outlets had already reported the developments. Wiener noted Trump has threatened to withhold disaster relief and has attacked the state’s leaders amid the LA wildfires.
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.
Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!