The almost party-line vote repeals a waiver, issued under the Biden administration, allowing California to set their own clean air standards.
California begins planning how to ‘Trump-proof’ the state
California lawmakers returned to the state capital ahead of a special session called by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom to ‘Trump-proof’ the liberal state for the second term of the conservative president-elect.
WASHINGTON − The Senate opted to block California’s landmark plan to end the sale of gasoline-only cars by 2035, in a near-party-line vote May 22.
Republicans employed a controversial procedural tactic to skirt the chamber’s filibuster, which typically creates a 60-vote threshold to pass legislation. One Democrat, Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, voted in favor of the move, against her party.
The 51-44 vote repealed a waiver issued under former President Joe Biden’s administration, which allowed California to set their own clean air standards, higher than those of the federal government.
The move will likely escalate political tensions between the Trump administration and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.