California is taking the first steps to protect the state's progressive policies from federal challenges expected by the new administration that takes office in January. As Voice of America correspondent Matt Dibble reports from Sacramento, during President-elect Donald Trump's first term, California filed multiple lawsuits against the federal government to preserve its policies.
California lawmakers gathered earlier this month in the state capital, Sacramento, in an emergency session to defend state policies from expected challenges from the new Trump administration.
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas said they should prepare for legal challenges with the federal government.
"If the LGBTQ community is attacked, if migrant workers are targeted, if women's reproductive rights are threatened, we will fight with everything we have," said Assembly Speaker Rivas.
During Trump's first presidency, California filed more than 120 lawsuits against the administration, successfully defending the state's immigration policies, vehicle pollution standards and access to health care.
During the campaign, Mr. Trump again vowed to strip California of its authority to set regulations on vehicle pollution, and to deport all undocumented immigrants. He also threatened to block emergency funding if the state resists federal policies.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, who called for the assembly, has also requested an additional $25 million in legal fees.
Sade Elhawary is a young lawmaker elected to the California assembly.
“It's really important that we do everything we can to prepare for what will be a huge legal battle. At the same time, we must balance the need for these legal battles with the priorities needed to support the daily needs of our communities, such as housing," said legislator Elhawary.
The proposed statutory fund comes at a time when California faces a growing budget deficit and fears that the state's economy could deteriorate under the incoming Trump administration.
However, the Democratic majority in the assembly is widely expected to support the defense of progressive values in this state.
On the other hand, Republican Minority Leader James Gallagher says that preparing to fight the federal government is the wrong approach.
"I sent a letter to President Trump telling him that there are many people in California, and elected officials, who want to work with you, particularly in the areas of wildlife protection, water resources, housing and energy costs," said Legislator Gallagher.
In front of the assembly building, marched demonstrators seeking to draw attention to President-elect Trump's proposed mass deportations. California has an estimated 1.8 million undocumented immigrants and is among states that have said in the past they will not cooperate with federal authorities on deportations.
Republican Legislator Bill Essayli says this must not continue.
"Border security, immigration policy, are not state level issues. We cannot have 50 states, each with separate policies in the United States. We must have a policy," said legislator Essayli.
The ability for states to resist the excessive exercise of federal authority has been in place since the drafting of the US Constitution and is intended to protect US citizens, says David Carrillo of the University of California, Berkeley Law School.
"In one sense, the conflict between the state and the federal government is a parameter of the system, not a defect. It is to be expected and not necessarily something to be avoided. Sometimes it's the federal government that takes you in for protection, and sometimes it's your state that serves as the only protection from the federal government. Both of these situations have appeared throughout American history," says Professor Carrillo.
The California Assembly will debate and vote on emergency measures before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20./Voice of America (A2 Televizion)
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