California Legislature sends Trump-proofing bills to governor

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — The speaker of the California Assembly lambasted President Donald Trump in a fiery speech Monday, moments before the chamber debated the legislation and passed two bills allocating $50 million for legal fights against the federal government.

Speaker Robert Rivas, a Hollister Democrat, called out Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, saying the federal administration under their guidance has led to sweeps of undocumented immigrants. Rivas argued that federal Immigration Customs and Enforcement agents have entered schools and hospitals as they ensnare immigrants.

“They raise families, and they contribute to our community,” Rivas said of immigrants. “They are Californians. They are not criminals.”

Rivas’ speech came during a special session called by Governor Gavin Newsom days after Trump’s electoral win. Heeding the call to provide funding for legal battles against the federal government, the Assembly on Monday passed two state Senate bills providing up to $50 million to that effort.

The bills now proceed to the governor’s desk.

The first bill allocates up to $25 million for the state Department of Justice to pay for legal battles involving the federal government. The second bill contains another $25 million for local legal services.

Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, a San Diego Republican, attempted to amend one of the bills on the Assembly floor. He sought to prohibit taxpayer dollars from funding the defense of public officials who willingly break federal law. The attempt failed.

“Let them put their neck on the line,” DeMaio argued.

An attempted amendment on the second bill would have stopped any funding for legal fights against deportation for undocumented immigrants with felony convictions. That amendment also failed.

Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, an Encino Democrat who carried the state Senate bills in the Assembly, said the money is for legal aid services and target already existing programs. Those programs help undocumented immigrants who face domestic violence, human trafficking, veterans and others.

Republicans pushed back on the bills. Assemblymember Bill Essayli, a Corona Republican, said Trump was elected overwhelmingly by the Electoral College and has a mandate to enforce federal laws.

Essayli argued the Assembly should instead focus on funding for Proposition 36, the retail theft and drug measure that passed in November, as well as make the state more affordable and remove burdensome regulations.

Assemblymember Joe Patterson, a Rocklin Republican, echoed some of those comments. He rhetorically questioned who cut services for Californians.

“You know who cut funding for kids with developmental disabilities?” Patterson asked. “Not Donald Trump. You did.”

Democrats overwhelmingly supported the bills.

Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, a Torrance Democrat, pointed to Trump’s handful of executive orders he called blatantly unlawful. He said Trump seeks to undo the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to anyone born in the United States.

Trump also tried to freeze federal funding, which Muratsuchi said is a power relegated to Congress, not the president.

“All we have to fight for Californians is to resort to the courts,” he added.

Assemblymember Alex Lee, a San Jose Democrat, pointed to the 1898 U.S. Supreme Court case United States v. Wong Kim Ark , which found that children of non-citizens born on American soil are, in fact, American citizens.

Now, Trump wants to redefine that definition, which Lee said would have affected him if Trump’s vision had been in place.

“This federal administration wants to criminalize the very existence of people,” Lee added, adding moments later: “This would affect all immigrants.”

Some members in both parties accused the other side of gaslighting — making someone believe something that isn’t true.

DeMaio said Democrats spent the weekend deciding to how handle the proposed amendments. Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, a Los Angeles Democrat, said instead they spent the weekend on the message they wanted to convey.

“I think today our message is pretty clear — you are not alone,” Bryan said.