'Newsom takes aggressive stance against Trump: "We won't sit idle"'
California Governor Gavin Newsom is convening a special legislative session to secure additional funding aimed at combating President-elect Donald Trump.
TroibNews 
SACRAMENTO, California — California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Thursday that he is calling a special session of the Legislature to strengthen the state's legal defenses against President-elect Donald Trump.
Newsom highlighted that Trump's campaign rhetoric and policies during his first term regarding abortion, electric vehicles, immigration, and disaster aid necessitate immediate legislative action before lawmakers are set to reconvene in Sacramento.
“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack — and we won’t sit idle,” Newsom stated while unveiling the special session, which is scheduled to commence on December 2 in Sacramento.
During Trump’s first term, California emerged as a principal bastion of resistance, filing over 120 lawsuits against the administration on issues such as air pollution, immigration, gun control, health care, union dues, and more.
Newsom’s latest proclamation, indicative of his proactive stance as a supporter for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, suggests that the state is poised to adopt a similar role once again.
The Legislature is already set to return to Sacramento in early December to begin preparations for the upcoming session. Newsom's proclamation specifically seeks to authorize additional funding for Attorney General Rob Bonta and state agencies to counter Trump's initiatives.
Newsom framed this move as "the first of several actions" he and lawmakers plan to undertake against Trump. Legislative leaders expressed solidarity with the governor's sentiment.
"California has come too far and accomplished too much to simply surrender and accept his dystopian vision for America," state Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire remarked.
“Voters sent a clear message this election, and we need to lean in and listen," Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas commented. "But we also must be prepared to defend California values, no matter the challenges ahead."
The proclamation addresses Trump's rollback of clean-vehicle regulations, the repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, and his withholding of disaster aid. It also alludes to possible restrictions on abortion medication, extending its concern beyond Trump’s declarations to encompass “statements and policy papers issued by individuals close to his campaign and by Republican congressional leadership.”
Given California's predominantly Democratic legislature, the state is uniquely positioned to enable the governor to summon lawmakers specifically to confront an incoming Republican president. Newsom has convened the legislature outside the regular session on two occasions in the past two years — most recently in September — both aimed at enacting stringent regulations on the oil and gas sector to mitigate price increases at the pump.
Democratic supermajority members, including Rivas, have already expressed their readiness to return and address issues linked to Trump.
Among those indicating their willingness to participate is Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, a Democrat from Orange County, who led the committee handling Newsom’s previous special session.
Petrie-Norris conveyed her support for resuming legislative efforts, cautioning against superficial political maneuvering.
“We were certainly the heart of the resistance during Trump’s first term, and I think that that will continue in the second term," she stated on Wednesday. "But I also don’t think we want to get ourselves trapped in this position where it’s resistance for resistance’s sake and performance art.”
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
Newsom highlighted that Trump's campaign rhetoric and policies during his first term regarding abortion, electric vehicles, immigration, and disaster aid necessitate immediate legislative action before lawmakers are set to reconvene in Sacramento.
“The freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack — and we won’t sit idle,” Newsom stated while unveiling the special session, which is scheduled to commence on December 2 in Sacramento.
During Trump’s first term, California emerged as a principal bastion of resistance, filing over 120 lawsuits against the administration on issues such as air pollution, immigration, gun control, health care, union dues, and more.
Newsom’s latest proclamation, indicative of his proactive stance as a supporter for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, suggests that the state is poised to adopt a similar role once again.
The Legislature is already set to return to Sacramento in early December to begin preparations for the upcoming session. Newsom's proclamation specifically seeks to authorize additional funding for Attorney General Rob Bonta and state agencies to counter Trump's initiatives.
Newsom framed this move as "the first of several actions" he and lawmakers plan to undertake against Trump. Legislative leaders expressed solidarity with the governor's sentiment.
"California has come too far and accomplished too much to simply surrender and accept his dystopian vision for America," state Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire remarked.
“Voters sent a clear message this election, and we need to lean in and listen," Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas commented. "But we also must be prepared to defend California values, no matter the challenges ahead."
The proclamation addresses Trump's rollback of clean-vehicle regulations, the repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, and his withholding of disaster aid. It also alludes to possible restrictions on abortion medication, extending its concern beyond Trump’s declarations to encompass “statements and policy papers issued by individuals close to his campaign and by Republican congressional leadership.”
Given California's predominantly Democratic legislature, the state is uniquely positioned to enable the governor to summon lawmakers specifically to confront an incoming Republican president. Newsom has convened the legislature outside the regular session on two occasions in the past two years — most recently in September — both aimed at enacting stringent regulations on the oil and gas sector to mitigate price increases at the pump.
Democratic supermajority members, including Rivas, have already expressed their readiness to return and address issues linked to Trump.
Among those indicating their willingness to participate is Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, a Democrat from Orange County, who led the committee handling Newsom’s previous special session.
Petrie-Norris conveyed her support for resuming legislative efforts, cautioning against superficial political maneuvering.
“We were certainly the heart of the resistance during Trump’s first term, and I think that that will continue in the second term," she stated on Wednesday. "But I also don’t think we want to get ourselves trapped in this position where it’s resistance for resistance’s sake and performance art.”
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
