Sac Bee Lectures Rep. Kevin Kiley on How to Do His New Job

The Sacramento Bee, the State Capitol newspaper of record, has a real problem with newly elected Congressman Kevin Kiley (R-CA) – enough of a problem they wrote a hit piece wagging their finger at him, telling him how he is supposed to do his new job.

Notably, Kiley served in the California State Assembly for 6 years, prior to being elected to Congress in November. As an Assemblyman, Kiley was one of the very few Republicans who used his elected office to do as much as possible to oppose the bad policies coming from elected Democrats, despite being in the super-minority.

Perhaps the single most important action was when Assemblymen Kiley and James Gallagher sued Gov. Gavin Newsom to determine whether the governor has the emergency authority to make law without legislative authority, using his emergency powers during the COVID shutdown of the state. Gov. Gavin Newsom had issued 58 executive orders by the time Gallagher and Kiley filed their suit. Many of those decisions and executive orders were legally dubious if not outright unconstitutional, all under the guise of “public health.”

The Sacramento Bee, ignoring Kiley’s record as a very effective fighter, whined, “Now that he’s a congressman with a national megaphone, Kevin Kiley’s eager to describe over and over how he sees Gov. Gavin Newsom ruining California. Four days after taking office, the Rocklin Republican vowed on his blog, ‘I will continue to do everything I can to expose Newsom’s failures, using all the new tools at my disposal to hold him accountable. Our movement for sanity in California will continue to grow.’”

“There’s simply the platform of being able to communicate on the national level about how things have been going in California,” Kiley said.

It’s okay for Rep. Maxine Waters to use her congressional office as a megaphone, but not Rep. Kiley?

“Being a congressman involves balancing concern and getting help for constituents while working to shape federal policy so it benefits both the country and the member’s district,” the Bee lectured.

At least they acknowledged “In his first weeks in office, Kiley has spent much of his time traveling through his district, seeking help for storm victims.”

The Bee reported, “at the same time Kiley has:”

▪ Spoken on the House floor against how California has handled water policy. “California now finds itself in a drought emergency and a flood emergency at the same time,” Kiley said. “That absurdity underscores a fundamental failure of governance.”

▪ Criticized Newsom on Twitter, warning “My arrival in Congress is not going to make Gavin Newsom’s life easier. Quite the contrary.”

▪ Appeared on Laura Ingraham’s Fox News show, saying Newsom “declared California is the true freedom state. You’d think this is a parody if you didn’t know better.”

▪ Reminded constituents he’s still fighting. “As for Newsom, accountability is on the way,” he said in his new blog post Tuesday.

Oh no! Rep. Kiley spoke on the House floor about how California has mishandled water policy? How dare he!

And he criticized Gov. Newsom on Twitter? Unthinkable.

Then came the lecture: “Analysts said that Kiley needs to concentrate on making the transition from state assemblyman to congressman.”

They found an “analyst” to confirm their position:

“He needs to switch his brain from Republican opposition in California” to helping the party’s loftier goals, said Wesley Hussey, professor of political science at California State University, Sacramento.

No, Rep. Kiley does not need to “switch his brain from Republican opposition in California” to helping the party’s loftier goals.

Here is what Rep. Kevin Kiley is doing for California:

• January 5th, Kiley Urges Residents to Prepare for Storm, Office Ready to Assist. After the election of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on January 7th, Kiley said, “Our work will begin immediately to rein in inflation, reduce spending, secure the border, and bring accountability to the federal government.”

Those are pretty specific goals: inflation reduction, reduce spending, secure the border and bring accountability.

• Facing record storms in California, on January 9th, Kiley announced, “Kiley Applauds Emergency Declaration, Office Ready to Assist.”
• January 1oth, Kiley Votes to Repeal 87,000 IRS Agents, Fulfilling Key Campaign Pledge. “Last year, under one-party control, Congress passed legislation funding 87,000 new IRS agents,” Kiley said. “The purpose was to target small business owners and middle-class families with audit after audit to fund more reckless spending. Today I voted for legislation to protect taxpayers by repealing funding for those agents, safeguarding over 700,000 Americans making less than $75,000/year from intrusive IRS audits. Americans deserve a government that works for them, and that is what we are delivering in the new Congress.”
• By January 12th, Kiley Requests Increased Federal Aid as Storm Damage Builds. “Congressman Kevin Kiley officially requested that Governor Newsom ask for a Major Disaster Declaration from President Biden, which is required for California residents to access a variety of federal assistance programs to recover from the storm impacts. He also requested that President Biden issue such declaration as soon as the request is received from Governor Newsom to ensure our community receives federal assistance without delay.”
• January 17th, Rep. Kiley Honored by Judiciary Committee Assignment and Ready to Bring Accountability to DC. “I am honored to serve on the House Judiciary Committee in the 118th Congress” said Rep. Kiley. “The House Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over a wide range of matters, including oversight of the administration of justice by federal agencies and courts, protection of civil liberties, immigration law enforcement, and safeguarding intellectual property. “I look forward to using my committee assignment to help usher in a new era of accountability for the federal government.”
• January 18th, Rep. Kiley Honored by Education and the Workforce Committee Assignment, Will Fight for Parents and Workers. “I look forward to using my committee assignment to safeguard parents’ rights, advance choice in education, and protect the freedom to work,” Kiley said.
• Most recently, January 25th, Rep. Kiley Appeals to President Biden to Fulfill His Commitment to Provide Relief for Caldor Fire Victims.

Here is why:

“At the White House today, Rep. Kiley spoke to President Biden to request that he fulfill his promise to provide relief to victims of the Caldor Fire. On September 13^th, 2021, after surveying damage with Governor Newsom, President Biden pledged ‘we’re going to take care of them… there’s a lot we can do, and it starts off being a federal responsibility, in my view.’”

“One year later, President Biden has yet to keep that promise by providing federal assistance under FEMA’s individual assistance program to the hundreds of individuals who lost their homes, their livelihoods, and their community,” Kiley said. “To the residents of Grizzly Flats, you are not forgotten. I will do everything in my power to secure the same federal aid that was provided to victims of similarly destructive wildfires, and I call on President Biden to immediately fulfill his promise of assistance. With the stroke of a pen, he can finally give victims of the Caldor Fire the relief they deserve.”

So while the Bee was solely focused on “Kiley’s ongoing disdain for all things Newsom,” and “Kiley’s main point is that Newsom has presided over a state where the quality of life has eroded badly,” Kiley has been very clear on why.

It sure appears that Kiley hit the ground running, and is very clearly focused on California – as the Bee said he should be.