The last weekend has been nothing short of shocking for California
voters. Constitutional conservatism has
emerged again (somewhat) in a liberal bastion committed to resisting our duly
elected President through every means available. The city of Huntington Beach
filed their own lawsuit against the state of California for SB 54, the
so-called Sanctuary State law. In early April, when Surf City passed this
motion to direct their city attorney, I had attended the meeting, not sure
about what to expect on this matter.
The Surf City legal move is unique, in that they were
contesting the law for its overreach against the city’s home-rule powers as a
charter city. In California, municipalities fall into one of two categories,
charter or general law. General law cities are like extensions of the state
legislature, and therefore must abide by statutes passed and approved in
Sacramento. Charter cities, including Huntington Beach, but also my home city
of Torrance, enjoy greater autonomy on a range of issues, including the
operation of their police force. SB 54 encroached on those rights.
Orange County Superior Court Judge James Crandall agreed.
Citing well-written arguments from both sides, the
court sided with Huntington Beach. More specifically, he dismissed
the often-offered arguments that police departments need to follow SB 54 in
order to maintain trust and cooperation with immigrant communities.
This court victory was bolstered by a slew of vetoes issued
by Governor Jerry Brown. In his final year as California’s chief executive, Brown
issued some surprising rebukes to the liberal insanity of the
Democratically-controlled state legislature. These rejections are so
surprising, they deserve greater scrutiny:
1.
SB
539: This legislation was intended to expand the college tax credit
for high-income earners in California, a not-so subtle way for California
taxpayers to get around the deduction caps put in place with the Trump
Administration’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in 2017. Governor Brown rejected
this bill, recognizing that the already byzantine federal tax code would have
harmed whatever intended benefits, inviting “intervention by the Internal
Revenue Service.”
The Democrats loved the IRS when they were
going after conservative groups. Now that Project Veritas and the House GOP
majority have submitted the federal tax agency to greater scrutiny, they will
target tax dodgers, especially in California.
2.
SB
1424: Other wise known as the “Fake News” bill, would have required
the (flawed, biased) state attorney general to establish an advisory board to
look into the origin, proliferation, and solution to the spread of false
information on the Internet. Of course, this legislation amounted to nothing
more than liberal government overreach to snuff out diverse, albeit accurate,
information against liberal hegemony on social media. Brown’s verdict? “As
evidenced by the numerous studies by academic and policy groups on the spread
of false information, the creation of a statutory advisory group to examine
this issue is not necessary.” For once, Brown relied on statistical evidence to
reject bad legislation.
3.
SB
349: This bill would have barred ICE agents from arresting illegal
alien criminals in courthouses. The court system has become the latest
battleground between liberals and common-sense Californians who want
immigration laws enforced. Brown rejected this bill for fear of “unintended
consequences.” He then indicated that SB 54 already contained provisions for
the attorney general to draw up guidelines regarding protections of
“immigrants” in courthouses.
4.
SB
174: This veto was the most surprising. If signed into law, this
legislation would have allowed illegal aliens, non-citizens to serve on California’s
commissions and governing boards. This heinous disregard for federal and state
law has already occurred, with two illegal aliens appointed to city commissions
in Huntington Park, and then State Senator Kevin De Leon’s perverse decision to
appoint an illegal alien (with a law practice!) to a state college advisory
board.
Brown deftly rejected this legislation with a
straightforward statement: “I believe existing law — which requires citizenship
for these forms of public service — is the better path.”
Why has one of the most liberal governors in the country inadvertently
channeling some of President Trump’s populist conservatism? He is finally paying
attention to the common out cry of voters who are begging for the rule of law
to be restored.
Here are a few reasons for this final conservative streak
from Governor Moonbeam, many of which suggest that the anti-republican
Resistance which has mushroomed over the last years is about to dissolve.
1.
California has become increasingly dependent on
federal assistance because of the non-stop wildfires. Any more poking in the
federal eyes could have jeopardized lots of concerns. How much longer can
California’s political class confront Washington D.C. without suffering the
consequences? This backtracking proves that in the long-run, liberal states
cannot sustain their cold civil war with the Trump Administration.
2.
The “unintended consequences” which Brown
referred to would have led to more ICE raids and more deportations. Also, courts
should remain a bastion of security for law enforcement to carry out necessary
raids and conduct warranted arrests.
3.
California cities, counties, and the state as a
whole have already lost millions in federal grants for defying federal
immigration laws. This would have made it much worse.
4.
Huntington Beach's victory in Orange County
Superior Court likely discouraged his signature for the two “pro-immigrant”
bills. More costly lawsuits from the federal government would bankrupt an
already cash-strapped state.
Californians are rejecting the degrading policies which have
forced up the cost of living without providing the basic services expected of
government: protection of individual rights and providing public safety.
Because of this uninterrupted liberal lunacy out of Sacramento, Democratic
candidates are actually losing ground to resurgent Republicans. Gubernatorial
candidate John Cox is gaining on liberal Democratic successor Gavin Newsom.
Brown’s signature on those terrible bills would have pushed voters over the top
and propelled the Republican slate.
Whether he likes it or not, Governor Brown is inadvertently
making California Great Again, and his latest efforts to hold back the
Democratic insanity will have a longer-lasting effect, but not as he intended.
