California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has made a deal with fellow far-left Democrats in the state legislature to set aside $50 million in taxpayer funds to fight the Trump administration and to shield illegal migrants from deportations \u2014 as the Los Angeles fires death toll reaches 24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Newsom convened<\/a> a special session immediately after President-elect Donald Trump handily beat Vice President Kamala Harris in the November election, saying another Trump presidency would require the legislature to \u201cprovide additional funding to the California Department of Justice (CADOJ) and other agencies\u201d to prepare for legal battles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe freedoms we hold dear in California are under attack \u2014 and we won\u2019t sit idle,\u201d Newsom said<\/a> on November 7 as he announced his plan. \u201cCalifornia has faced this challenge before, and we know how to respond. We are prepared, and we will do everything necessary to ensure Californians have the support and resources they need to thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The governor has now reached<\/a> a deal with state lawmakers to earmark $25 million for the CADOJ to use to push back against the incoming administration, and another $25 million \u201cproposed by state Senate leaders to defend immigrants against deportation, detention and wage theft,\u201d Politico<\/em> reported Monday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The deal is reportedly going to be voted on this week before Trump\u2019s inauguration takes place next Monday, but California Republicans are bashing Newsom for focusing on the new president while Los Angeles faces devastating fires. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Firefighters are still working to contain three active fires<\/a> that have already burned \u201can area bigger than San Francisco\u201d and killed at least 24 people, the Washington Post<\/em> reported Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n California Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher (R) called out Newsom on social media, calling the $50 million deal a \u201cslush fund\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt a time when California should be laser focused on responding to the devastating wildfires in LA, Democrat lawmakers\u2019 priority is creating a $50 million slush fund to hire government lawyers for hypothetical fights against the federal government and to defend criminal illegal immigrants from being returned to their home countries,\u201d the assemblyman wrote on X on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Senate Budget Chair Scott Wiener (D), who has notably pushed to grant<\/a> illegal aliens the ability to serve in party leadership positions and to reduce<\/a> penalties for adults who have oral or anal sex with a minor if the offender is within ten years of the age of the victim, spoke out in favor of Newsom\u2019s deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis funding agreement cements California\u2019s readiness to serve as a bulwark against Trump\u2019s extremist agenda,\u201d Wiener, whose district includes parts of San Francisco, said in a statement obtained by Politico<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSenate Democrats are particularly proud to provide funding for providers of legal aid services, which know our communities\u2019 needs best and are best positioned to defend at scale the millions of individuals and families that will be impacted by the incoming Administration\u2019s extreme agenda,\u201d Wiener added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n