Blog 13 [Make up]

 How did California’s state legislature and/or local governments use their powers during either the Obama or Trump presidencies to preserve state and local values in the face of conflicting Federal policies and directions?

 State legislatures are slightly less contentious than the halls of congress in Washington DC. While the “level of discussion” found in these legislatures can allow for a “lower bar.” For examples of that, just look up Assembly fights on YouTube, and one will be directed to the worst parts of state politics. However, for all the insults, and moments of unacceptable racism, sexism, and intolerance, there is a beautiful spirit of Bi-partisanship found within state houses. Part of that is because of the “lowered” stakes, the other is for the sake of pragmatism. Its simply does not benefit anyone in the California House to burn down every bridge to the other party. Another part of that is because rural assembly members are more likely to understand each other, regardless of party. Like Suburban or Urban members have similar issues, and can share data, solutions and ideas. The best example of that is the Bi Partisan togetherness is in the wake of the January 6th Riot in Washington DC. The California legislature passed a resolution calling for the removal of President Trump, and a former Republican State Senate leader even announced the resolution. Other republicans simply did not vote one way or another, indicating their feelings, and sharing their precarious political position. (article)

Before that the California State Government and legislature had been the foil to the Trump administration. Launching many law-suits about his most controversial policy’s, and creating work around for the state to bypass the Federal Government. An outstanding example of that is AB 21, sponsored by assemblyman Ash Kalra of San Jose. The bill aimed at  “requiring California State University and community colleges — and calling upon the UC system as well — to expand protections for undocumented students, staff and faculty.” “The bill was … intended to be to prepare for what we had anticipated would be coming down from the White House and, unfortunately, we were correct,” Kalra said. “California is setting an example to many other states on how to respond to what the Trump administration is doing. So AB 21 is one way of doing that, not just symbolically but actually taking actual steps to protect students in higher education.” (Article)

I think that that quote says everything needed about the mindset of the legislature during the Trump administration. From the minute he was elected, the legislators in California began planning for the worst, and how to work around the worst that the Trump administration could throw.