Newsom launches California’s attack on President-elect Trump

Governor Gavin Newsom launched his first salvo less than 36 hours after former President Trump was re-elected to the White House, calling a special session of the state Legislature on Thursday to increase legal funding to defend civil rights, climate change and access to abortion. disaster funding and other policies in California from a conservative federal agenda before the January inauguration.

Newsom’s preemptive strike marks the return of the hostile relationship between Democratic-controlled California and the Trump administration that characterized the Republican’s first term.

“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack – and we will not sit idle,” Newsom said in a statement. “California has faced this challenge before and we know how to respond. We are prepared to fight in court and we will do whatever it takes to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive.”

The new special session offers a first look at Newsom’s plan to wage an aggressive and highly visible campaign to protect California from the Trump White House while leading Democrats in the culture wars against the Republican Party.

In an interview in Orange County on Sunday, the Democratic governor warned that California will face a different Trump than the politician who became president in 2016.

“This is revenge and retaliation 2.0,” Newsom said.

In his acceptance speech early Wednesday, Trump declared that America had given him “an unprecedented and powerful mandate.”

Newsom’s proclamation during a special session said his administration expects the new president could try to restrict access to abortion drugs, pursue a national abortion ban, dismantle clean air and water environmental protections, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and withhold federal funding for disaster relief. among other promises he made during the campaign.

As part of its efforts to prepare for a possible Trump presidency, the Newsom administration has completed an analysis of Project 2025, which has been described as a playbook for a new Republican administration, with plans to replace thousands federal employees by Trump supporters who will. carrying out an extreme right-wing agenda.

Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta and Newsom’s office also reviewed more than 100 lawsuits California filed against the federal government during Trump’s first administration to identify potential vulnerabilities for the state and map the president-elect’s agenda.

Bonta called a news conference Thursday morning to “discuss the implications for California and preparations for a second Trump administration” — another sign that the state’s top Democrats are preparing for a legal battle.

The governor is asking lawmakers to provide additional funding to the California Department of Justice and other agencies in his administration to immediately file lawsuits and defend against lawsuits from and against the Trump administration.

The governor’s aides said increases to the state’s legal defense would be paid for with income tax revenues that exceeded projections in the current fiscal year, but the amount of funding would be determined during negotiations at the Capitol.

Newsom has called two more special sessions to achieve a policy objective, in his political battle with the oil industry. This is also the second special session since lawmakers were suspended for a year in late August.

According to the new proclamation, the special session would begin on December 2, the day when newly elected lawmakers will meet in the Senate and Assembly chambers to be sworn in. Lawmakers typically leave Sacramento after the ceremony to spend the holidays in their districts before returning. for the regular session at the beginning of the year. The schedule for the special session hearings has not yet been set, but could take place in early January at the same time as the regular session.

Laws passed during a special session and signed by the governor typically take effect 90 days after the session adjourns. Emergency bills, which require the support of two-thirds of lawmakers, take effect immediately with the governor’s signature. Bills seeking proper financing also come into effect with his approval.

Trump’s inauguration is on January 20.