As the federal government shutdown drags on and President Trump faces backlash for attempting to deploy National Guard troops to U.S. cities, California Senator Adam Schiff said the administration’s actions are tearing apart communities and violating public trust.

The Democratic U.S. senator spoke with CapRadio Politics Reporter Gerardo Zavala about those deployments and efforts to reopen the government. He also discussed why he supports Proposition 50, California’s proposal to let lawmakers redraw congressional maps favoring Democrats. 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity

Interview Highlights
We have seen bipartisan criticism of the president’s National Guard deployments to US cities, yet no legislation to limit that authority has moved forward. Why is that? 

Well, the Republicans in Congress largely support what the president is doing. Even if they have reservations, most aren’t willing to express them out loud. Nevertheless, these harms are severe. It’s causing enormous disruption. It’s tearing apart the social cohesion of our cities and our states. This is a terrible abuse of the military. It is in violation of the law and it also breaches the trust that communities have with their guard. 

So it sounds like what you’re saying is Congress really can’t rein in that power because of the Republican control. Is this something that the courts can address? 

It is something the courts can address. It is something they are addressing. Most of the lower courts have decided what the president is doing is unlawful and have ruled that way. Some court of appeals have upheld those decisions, others have not. The real decider will ultimately be the Supreme Court of the United States. 

Jumping over to the government shutdown. Earlier today, the Senate rejected a bill that would have paid federal employees working during the shutdown. Three Democrats voted for it, you didn’t. What was your reasoning and what kind of bill would you support?

Well, this wasn’t a bill that would have provided funding for all federal employees. It would only provide federal funding for the employees that the president decided he wanted paid. And it wouldn’t stop the president from laying off people in violation of the law. 

There are a couple of Democratic alternatives that I support that would make sure that all federal workers during a shutdown receive pay that they’re protected. And what’s more, put an end to these illegal layoffs. The proposal we’re offering is one that will cover all federal employees. 

What steps are you taking to help get the government reopened? Have you had any direct talks with Republican leaders about a path forward?

I’ve had talks with other Republican members. My impression is at the end of the day that Republicans, including the Republican leadership in Congress, they’re not going to do anything to reopen the government to address the healthcare crisis that they caused by repealing these Affordable Care Act tax credits. They’re not going to do anything until Donald Trump tells them it’s okay for them to reach a deal. 

It’s shocking to me that when the government is shut down and they’re not paying people, that they’re building this $200 million or $300 million dollar ballroom at the White House. It does tell you where the president’s priorities are, and it’s simply not with the people who are impacted. 

What are your thoughts on Prop 50 and what it could mean for California’s redistricting process?

Well, I think this is an important and necessary ballot measure, and it was made necessary by the president’s decision to tell Republican governors that they needed to do a very rare mid-decade reapportionment because their health care policies, the health care increased costs are so unpopular, they’re afraid of losing their majority in Congress. They have to resort to this mid-decade gerrymandering. At the same time, where I hope this will end up is with a national redistricting reform that outlaws the gerrymander in every state.


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