Staff Reports
California lawmakers are back at it with their usual obsession, scrambling to “Trump-proof” the Golden State before Donald Trump is even sworn into office. In an electrifying display of political theatrics, the Democratic supermajority in the state Senate and Assembly has kicked off their regular legislative session alongside a special session called by Governor Gavin Newsom. One can only assume Newsom is trying to look busy as he prepares for his 2028 presidential run.
Newsom is tapping into state funds, asking for a staggering $25 million to bolster Attorney General Rob Bonta’s legal efforts to defend California’s policies from the president-elect’s anticipated attacks. The so-called litigation strategy is already in place, as Bonta claims he has plotted out the timing and grounds of where and when to unleash California’s legal fury. This is great news for lawyers in the state, who will surely be celebrating at expensive dinners while the rest of the population grapples with the everyday costs of living.
Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire has jumped on the bandwagon, portraying Trump’s incoming administration as a dystopia that California simply cannot abide. With California’s plans to uphold policies on abortion rights, environmental regulations, and immigration on the agenda, it’s clear they’re not exactly embracing any attempt at moderation. This solidifies the notion that California remains the playground for the radical left, which is more interested in ideological battles than addressing the state’s glaring issues.
Newsom sees a potential federal tax cut for electric vehicle buyers under Trump as a golden opportunity to make headlines. He’s promising state subsidies to those who choose green vehicles, regardless of what Washington does. This move reeks of desperation, as it not only involves pushing unsustainable green policies but also signals that California remains committed to its self-inflicted economic burden. Ironically, they seem to think that buying their way into an electric vehicle is going to save the state from its broader financial dilemmas.
Hey California your state is broke thanks to your embezzling governor @Newsom & shit like his $100B high speed train and bridge to nowhere – now he wants to spend more of your money on illegals https://t.co/8IHUGNUTe1
— Jeremiah Westgate (@JerryWestgate) December 3, 2024
As if that wasn’t enough, California is bracing for a showdown on immigration, mandating that local police stay out of federal deportation efforts. Trump is expected to respond by stripping federal funds from these Democratic-controlled cities, which is sure to infuriate some locals. There’s a sense of melodrama here that prescribes a dose of irony, as Democratic leaders rally against federal authority while pleading for more resources from it at the same time.
Despite Newsom’s self-aggrandizing bravado, not everyone is on board with his special session antics. Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher has lambasted the initiative as a feeble political stunt designed to distract from the real issues plaguing California, such as rampant crime, homelessness, and soaring living costs. The spectacle of marching around the Capitol, calling for resistance against Trump’s policies, is more for show than any substantive policy change. So, as California lawmakers gather to draw lines in the sand, it seems the real battle may be less about preserving state ideals and more about preserving their political power.
