California Democrats have reached a $50 million deal to move forward with the special session to “Trump-proof California.”
The special session, however, has been postponed in the wake of the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area.
The backstory: Last November, California Gov. Gavin Newsom called a special session of the legislature to safeguard the state from the incoming presidency of Donald Trump.
- The special session, which has yet to actually take place in the state capitol, will target California’s legal resources to protect civil rights, reproductive freedom, climate action and immigrant families.
The big picture: Politico reported that Democrats have agreed to $25 million for the state Department of Justice for legal action against the federal government.
- Democrats have also agreed to $25 million to defend immigrants against deportation, detention and wage theft, according to Politico.
- Per the agreement, the California Department of Justice would create a website to detail all litigation that the state is taking against the federal government under Trump.
State of play: Any hopes from Newsom and Legislative Democrats to move the deal forward will have to wait.
- KCRA reported Monday that the first hearing in the special session, which was scheduled for Tuesday, has been postponed because of the fires.
- Democrats have hoped to have the special session legislation passed before Trump takes office on Jan. 20.
- The Legislature did not set a date for the postponed hearing as of Monday afternoon.
What they’re saying: “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,” said Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher (R–Yuba City) in a statement. “The disconnect between what Californians need and what Democrats are focused on is astounding.”
