Top California Democrat Mocks Pence, Thanks Donald Trump Admin for Helping Elect More Liberals

mike-pence-msc
Vice President Michael Pence arrives for his speech during the 55th Munich Security Conference (MSC), in Munich, on February 16. A top California Democrat thanked Pence for helping the state elect more Democratic officials. ALEXANDRA BEIER/GETTY IMAGES

A top California Democrat scoffed at Vice President Mike Pence's offer to foster collaboration between the state and the federal government and thanked Pence for helping the state elect more Democratic officials.

Pence sent California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon a letter on February 28 promoting greater ties between the state and federal government.

"We value the opportunity to work with you to build on our successes in the year ahead," Pence's letter said. "We recognize that when California succeeds, America succeeds. To that end, please find enclosed contact information for your liaisons in key Federal agencies. We look forward to hearing from you and working together to strengthen the State of California and our Nation."

Dear @VP:

Please see attached correspondence. pic.twitter.com/k3h1D0cMbb

— Anthony Rendon (@Rendon63rd) March 19, 2019

Rendon responded this week with a letter that clearly elucidated his scorn at Pence's offer. He noted that Democrats gained five more seats in the 2018 election, giving them control of 60 seats out of a possible 80. One Republican assemblyman also announced in January that he would switch parties, citing President Trump as his motivation.

"I would have to say you and the President have already done quite a bit to help us with that," Rendon wrote to Pence. "Thanks to your policies, voters in California added five Democrats to the Assembly in the last election. In addition, one Republican has decided to jump to the Democratic Party, citing the President's extreme positions. We now have a three-quarters majority—plus one."

He took aim at Pence's appeal to federalism and collaboration with states, noting the frequent disagreements between California and the Trump administration.

Rendon asked how the commitment to work with California aligned with the administration's attempts to "prevent California from ensuring clean air," "prevent California from educating the children of immigrants" and "interfere with the health rights of women in our state."

The speaker also corrected Pence's grammar and encouraged the vice president to increase the proportion of women and people of color listed as federal liaisons. Rendon ended the letter, "Our success is built on diversity."

"The letter expressed gratitude and appreciation and offered assistance with improving diversity. It did question the Administration's commitment to federalism, which is rather a call to work better together," Rendon's press secretary, Kevin Liao, told Newsweek.

Rendon has previously taken aim at Trump. The day after Trump won the 2016 election, Rendon and Kevin de León, the California Senate president pro tempore, issued a statement vowing to resist efforts to alter progressive policies in California, according to the Los Angeles Times.

mike-pence-msc
Vice President Michael Pence arrives for his speech during the 55th Munich Security Conference (MSC), in Munich, on February 16. A top California Democrat thanked Pence for helping the state elect more Democratic officials. ALEXANDRA BEIER/GETTY IMAGES

California leaders have frequently faced off with the Trump administration. San Francisco Chronicle reported that the state has taken the administration to court 47 times in the last two years.

Former Governor Jerry Brown frequently criticized the Trump administration over issues, including the federal government's plan to roll back EPA regulations and its policy toward climate change.

Last month, when declaring the 46th lawsuit against the Trump administration, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra praised the state's legal record against the federal government, according to The Sacramento Bee.

"If I were a baseball player, our batting average would be phenomenal," he said. "It'd be out of this world. I'd be a free agent making some good money."

Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized that he wanted to collaborate with the Trump administration. "I don't want to be a sparring partner with President Trump," he said. "We want to be a working partner, but he makes it all but impossible when he plays these games and manufactures a crisis and creates the conditions where we have no other choice but to sue the administration."

This article has been updated to include comments from Speaker Rendon's press secretary.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Daniel Moritz-Rabson is a breaking news reporter for Newsweek based in New York. Before joining Newsweek Daniel interned at PBS NewsHour ... Read more

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