California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Tuesday his office may need additional funding to continue its legal battles against President Donald Trump’s administration and to address antitrust issues, as budget negotiations are underway at the state Capitol. Bonta didn’t provide a specific dollar amount but said he has been in talks with the governor’s office about the need. Bonta made the remarks during a virtual news conference where he announced California’s 68th lawsuit against the Trump administration since the president took office last year. The latest lawsuit challenges changes the Trump administration made to the definition of “professional degrees,” plus new limits the administration set on some student loan caps, which could soon impact those pursuing careers as nurses or physical therapists.Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers provided $25 million to Bonta’s office last year during a special legislative session to support the court battles against President Trump. With state budget negotiations now in progress, Bonta said he is reviewing his department’s finances and is in discussions about potentially requesting more money. “We’ve hired up quite a few, 44 different attorney positions to beef up our team, and that was supported by the special session,” Bonta said. “We might need to ask for a little more. We’re having those conversations now.” Bonta also highlighted the need for increased help antitrust enforcement, pointing to what Bonta said was the federal government’s lack of action in this area. “In absence of the federal government doing that job and abdicating a traditional role that the federal government has had, states are stepping up,” Bonta said noting lawsuits against Ticketmaster-Live Nation, the Nexstar-Tegna merger, and Amazon. He also said the state is taking a look at the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger.”We have additional need to do anti-monopoly work and do the work Californians want us to do, need us to do, deserve us doing because it will address the primary issues for many Californians, which is affordability,” Bonta said.California has the largest antitrust unit of any state Department of Justice, with about 40 attorneys. Bonta’s office said the Department of Justice needs about 8 more attorneys to handle the workload, noting that these cases are expensive, requiring about $20 million total and 20 attorneys each. Lawmakers and the governor are currently negotiating the state budget, which must be finalized by July 1. Bonta’s funding request could be decided by next month.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Tuesday his office may need additional funding to continue its legal battles against President Donald Trump’s administration and to address antitrust issues, as budget negotiations are underway at the state Capitol.
Bonta didn’t provide a specific dollar amount but said he has been in talks with the governor’s office about the need.
Bonta made the remarks during a virtual news conference where he announced California’s 68th lawsuit against the Trump administration since the president took office last year. The latest lawsuit challenges changes the Trump administration made to the definition of “professional degrees,” plus new limits the administration set on some student loan caps, which could soon impact those pursuing careers as nurses or physical therapists.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers provided $25 million to Bonta’s office last year during a special legislative session to support the court battles against President Trump. With state budget negotiations now in progress, Bonta said he is reviewing his department’s finances and is in discussions about potentially requesting more money.
“We’ve hired up quite a few, 44 different attorney positions to beef up our team, and that was supported by the special session,” Bonta said. “We might need to ask for a little more. We’re having those conversations now.”
Bonta also highlighted the need for increased help antitrust enforcement, pointing to what Bonta said was the federal government’s lack of action in this area.
“In absence of the federal government doing that job and abdicating a traditional role that the federal government has had, states are stepping up,” Bonta said noting lawsuits against Ticketmaster-Live Nation, the Nexstar-Tegna merger, and Amazon. He also said the state is taking a look at the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger.
“We have additional need to do anti-monopoly work and do the work Californians want us to do, need us to do, deserve us doing because it will address the primary issues for many Californians, which is affordability,” Bonta said.
California has the largest antitrust unit of any state Department of Justice, with about 40 attorneys. Bonta’s office said the Department of Justice needs about 8 more attorneys to handle the workload, noting that these cases are expensive, requiring about $20 million total and 20 attorneys each.
Lawmakers and the governor are currently negotiating the state budget, which must be finalized by July 1. Bonta’s funding request could be decided by next month.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google