Senate Budget Vice-Chair Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama) questions the value of hiring expensive private attorneys at a retainer fee of $25,000 per month to “advise on potential legal challenges with the incoming Trump Administration” by California’s Democratic legislative leaders by issuing the following statement:

“This is a waste of taxpayers’ dollars. How can the state afford to pay for an out-of-state overpriced lawyer when we could be using those funds to help the poor and those in need?

“This unnecessary action is provocative and premature given that this Administration has not yet taken office nor its agenda been established.

“California has an attorney. The Governor has appointed Congressman Xavier Becerra to be Attorney General of California.

“When appointing Congressman Becerra, Governor Brown said, ‘I'm confident he will be a champion for all Californians and help our state aggressively combat climate change.’

“The Legislature has a lot of work to do, from fixing our roads to the creation of jobs; let’s focus on Californians.”