At your request: This week's California Commentary by Jon Coupal.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed on the HJTA website, or you provided your address in response to direct mail. Please see the bottom of this message to unsubscribe. Click here to view in browser.

Contribute >

California Commentary

Enough with the special sessions in Sacramento

By Jon Coupal

Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed yet another special session last November to "safeguard California values and fundamental rights in the face of an incoming Trump administration."

The Legislature is proposing $25 million to the California Department of Justice to "Trump-proof" California and another $25 million for illegal immigration legal and support services. But what purpose does a special session even serve?

Well, their purpose is made abundantly clear by their official term. It's officially an "extraordinary" session. The dictionary tells me that means "going beyond what is usual, regular, or customary."

Let's say, hypothetically, a natural disaster like a wildfire, destroys a portion of Los Angeles while the legislature isn't in session. It would make perfect sense for the governor to call the legislature back to address recovery efforts.

But, for better or worse, our state Legislature is a full-time legislature so they are in regular session for most of the year. The session convenes in December and doesn't end until September (with a month off for Summer). They don't need to be called back. They're already here.

Well, you might be saying, the governor called them into special session in November. You said they aren't in session in November, so they needed a special session. But they didn't come back in November. When Newsom declared a special session, he gave it a starting date of "December 2, when the Legislature convenes."

Even then, they didn't really get going on it until January - when the regular session is already fully underway. So, what is calling a special session, especially one about fighting Trump, about? Well, you could say it's about emphasizing priorities. But really it is nothing more than political theater.

Sure, the governor and legislative leaders could just tackle conflicts with the Trump administration in the normal course of their jobs, but that doesn't generate national headlines. With Newsom's national aspirations back on track after Kamala Harris's defeat at the polls, garnering good press is a high priority for the administration.

But how is that working out? When the wildfires erupted in L.A. County, the political posturing was seen for what it was; an empty exercise that was tone deaf and in poor taste. Fiddling about Trump while the Pacific Palisades and Altadena burned.

Media scrutiny was growing, and more responsible legislative leaders were justifiably questioning the wisdom of continuing the Trump-related special session, especially relative to legitimate public business.

Moreover, existing legislative rules allow important bills to move quickly without a special session. The only thing stopping lawmakers from addressing the fires, or Trump for that matter, in the regular session was that they are simultaneously in a special session. But rather than go back to their regularly scheduled business and deal with all the issues facing California, including the wildfires, they doubled down.

Newsom announced he was expanding the special session to fight both Trump and the fires. Democrats also planned to lump it all together in one big bill. Tying funding for victims of a natural disaster to opposing Trump? That didn't go well.

Legislative Republicans immediately objected to holding wildfire funding hostage and legislative leaders backed down after further public scrutiny. The Legislature has since approved a $2.5 billion proposal to respond to the fires while the Senate considers the $50 million to fight Trump.

Excessive spending had already stretched the budget to the point that the governor called for pulling billions out of the state's rainy-day reserves. Now, thanks to two sessions at once, the legislature can spend your money twice as fast. Enough is enough.

Jon Coupal is president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

The HJTA Show LIVE on 790 KABC & 810 KSFO!

Join HJTA President Jon Coupal and Vice President of Communications Susan Shelley for the Howard Jarvis Radio Show every Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. LIVE on both 790 KABC in Southern California and 810 (formerly 560) KSFO in Northern California.

More Podcasts >

Jon Coupal is the President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. He is a recognized expert in California fiscal affairs and has argued numerous tax cases before the courts.

HJTA always appreciates the support of its members, if it doesn't pose a hardship. Your donations help us fight to Protect Proposition 13 and all California taxpayers.

Donate Today >

Don't forget to follow us:

Copyright (c) 2024 Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, All rights reserved.

You are receiving this message because you subscribed on the HJTA website, or you provided your e-mail address in response to direct mail. Please add us to your address book for future correspondence.

Our mailing address is:

Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

621 South Westmoreland Avenue, Suite 200

Los Angeles, CA 90005

If you'd like to stop receiving email communications from HJTA, please UNSUBSCRIBE HERE.

** This is email id #446283 sent by Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. To unsubscribe from this list, please reply to this email. **