California Assembly Democrats Pass $50 Million ‘Trump-Proofing’ Slush Fund

Last week we reported that California Republicans blocked Thursday’s vote in the Assembly to “Trump-proof” the state. Democrats tried to pass $50 million to protect illegal immigrants from deportation, among other issues.

That was short-lived.

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced in early December his plan to “Trump-proof” the state against President Donald Trump’s anticipated policies. Newsom called the special session of the Legislature to grab another $50 million that the state doesn’t have so Attorney General Rob Bonta can spend more time and taxpayer money to file lawsuits against the Trump administration, litigate and “defend” California’s problematic policies, regulations and laws.

Monday, Assembly Democrats passed the $50 million slush fund.

Democrats describe their actions as needed to “protect California taxpayers and the state’s economy from Republican chaos in Washington, D.C.”:

California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas:

“As I said in December, our constituents don’t feel the state of California is working for them, and their primary concern is the cost of living here at home.

We all know that because they’re telling us that repeatedly. So our task is urgent and it’s clear: To make life more affordable for every resident.”

Oh, so now Democrats want to make California more affordable… they clearly don’t correlate their policies and legislation with the highest cost of living in the country.

Back to Speaker Rivas:

“Of course, we will face challenges that we don’t know are coming—like the horrific fires in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, we know that more challenges will come.

And these are times when we must come together to find consensus. Not rush to social media, to point fingers, or to dis-inform.”

Of course they don’t want anyone pointing fingers after the “horrific fires in Los Angeles.” It was their water restrictions, their empty reservoirs, their bills to make illegal desperately needed brush removal, tree removal, controlled burns, and other wildfire prevention measures.

“Our job, above all else, is to protect our residents whether the threat is wildfires, other natural disasters or threats to their civil liberties and freedoms.

Let me be blunt – right now, Californians are being threatened by an out-of-control administration in Washington—that doesn’t care about the Constitution… and thinks there are no limits to its power.”

After naming wildfires and natural disasters, Speaker Rivas claims Republicans in Washington “don’t care about the Constitution?” They are the problem?

“Increasingly, our own residents are being threatened by actions taken by the Trump administration, and it is our duty to rise to the moment.

We must ensure that our residents receive the federal services and benefits that they have contributed to and that they deserve.

Given the many executive orders that have been issued over the past two weeks I can say with clarity that we do not trust President Donald Trump.

Consider the words and actions coming from our President: He has referred to undocumented immigrants as animals.”

First, they are not “undocumented,” they illegally crossed into the United States. Many are criminals are preying upon legal Americans and Californians. So yes, the illegal alien criminals are “animals.” Just ask their victims’ families…

“And as we all know, President Trump pardoned violent criminals who viciously attacked US Capitol police officers with metal pipes, baseball bats, and flag poles, leading to injuries, deaths, and suicides.

How can we trust a President who calls for law and order – yet pardons his own supporters when they attack law enforcement?”

Okay, now Speaker Rivas plays the Jan 6 card claiming those who have been sitting in prison for 3-4 years for attending the January 6, 2021 Capitol Rally in which an unarmed veteran was murdered by a member of the Capitol police – they are the criminals? I can’t wait until the FBI records on Jan 6 are released.

Here are the two funding bills Speaker Rivas supports appropriating $50 million to “Trump Proof” California:

• SBX1-1 would amend the 2024 Budget Act to include a State Litigation Fund, allocating $25 million to the Department of Justice to assist in protecting California residents and taxpayers. For instance, if the federal government withholds emergency aid after a natural disaster, such as the L.A. firestorms, the fund will allow the DOJ to pursue legal recourse to secure the emergency aid from the federal government, providing California taxpayers with billions of dollars.
• SBX1-2 amends the Budget Act to add funding for Legal Services, including $25 million for legal assistance for Californians and immigrant communities. Our Assembly’s direction is crystal clear and in writing: This funding goes toward supporting free legal services for especially vulnerable Californians, including veterans, people with disabilities, unhoused youth, those facing eviction, seniors, and victims of domestic violence, wage theft and human trafficking. Per the Legislature’s direction, funding will not be used for legal services defending those convicted of a violent or serious felony.

SBX-1-1 allocates $25 million to the Department of Justice “to assist in protecting California residents and taxpayers.” The Senate Floor Analyses of SBX1-1 says this:

“Appropriates up to $25 million for the purpose of defending the state against enforcement and legal actions taken by the federal government, filing affirmative litigation challenging actions taken by the federal government, and taking administrative action authorized under state law to mitigate the impacts of actions taken by the federal government.”

Trump Proofing.

Senate Floor Analyses of SBX1-2 says this:

“Appropriates $10 million to the Judicial Council, to be distributed through the Legal Services Trust Fund Commission to qualified legal services projects and support centers, as defined.

FYI – another taxpayer-funded legal services program, “The Legal Services Trust Fund Commission is dedicated to closing the justice gap in California by increasing equitable access to legal services for low-income and underserved communities.”

“…the funds will be used to provide legal services to vulnerable persons at risk of detention, deportation, eviction, wage theft, intimate partner violence, and other actions that put their safety at risk, as a result of potential or actual federal actions.”

California already has a funded program to do what the additional $10 million purports to do…

California taxpayers will be paying millions of taxpayers funds to provide lawyers for illegal aliens at risk of detention and deportation.

Here is how the $25 million is allocated:

• $10 million to the Judicial Council
• $10 million to the Department of Social Services for immigration services funding
• $5 million to the Judicial Council, to be distributed through the California Access to Justice Commission to nonprofit providers of legal services.

Speaker Rivas conflates legal and illegal, referring “to the millions of immigrants who call California home”:

“Chaos has no place here. Fear and hatred have no place here. We will be professional, collaborative, and focused. We will not be distracted from our mission to protect our residents, our economy, and to deliver the best possible public services to 40 million Californians.”

Ah, he’s apparently referring to California’s “undocumented residents.”

“These votes show just how out of touch the Democratic supermajority has become,”said Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher. “There is no reason to oppose these policies other than petty partisanship. It’s a shame Democrats would rather play politics than support practical safeguards to protect the public and their tax dollars.”

Assembly Republicans forced votes on two issues, exposing Assembly Democrats’ misplaced priorities:

SBX1-1 Amendment (DeMaio): Would have prohibited taxpayer dollars in the Department of Justice’s anti-Trump slush fund from being used to defend public officials who willingly violate federal law.

SBX1-2 Amendment (Castillo): Would have barred the use of legal aid funds to defend illegal immigrants with felony convictions from deportation.

“Rather than adopting these policies, Assembly Democrats chose to continue pandering to the far left by green lighting $25 million to spend on lawsuits against the federal government and another $25 million to liberal legal aid groups.”