Thune: Democrats’ California Dreaming Is a Nightmare for Americans

Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune’s remarks below (as delivered): “Mr. President, last week I came to the floor to discuss some of the things that this Republican majority has delivered over the last two years. “Permanently lower taxes for families. “A secure border. “We’ve worked to bring down the cost of prescription drugs and make homeownership more affordable. “And we’ve delivered regulatory relief, and tax policies to help our nation’s small businesses as well as family farms and ranches. “Mr. President, Republicans have spent the last two years delivering on our agenda. “And it should be pretty clear what we stand for. “More money in your pocket. Safer streets. And new and more opportunities to get ahead. “Our Democrat colleagues, however, have spent much of the last two years opposing this agenda. “They’ve cast a lot of no votes and criticized Republicans’ agenda at seemingly every turn. “So one has to wonder, what do Democrats stand for? “What is their vision for this country? “Well, Mr. President, I think their last stint in power is pretty instructive: “Democrats’ vision for the country looks a lot like the big-government vision Democrats have implemented in California. “And you don’t have to take my word for it. “A Los Angeles Times headline a few days before President Biden took office read, and I quote, ‘Make America California Again? That’s Biden’s plan.’ “‘California,’ the article went on to say, and I quote again, ‘is emerging as the de facto policy think tank of the Biden-Harris administration and of a Congress soon to be under Democratic control.’ “That’s right, Mr. President. “In the words of the LA Times, Democrats leaned on California for inspiration in setting a progressive policy agenda for the Biden administration. “Democrats’ push to raise taxes mirrored California’s high tax rates – the highest individual rates in the country. “The Biden administration’s disastrous approach to illegal immigration embraced the sanctuary policies and soft-on-crime laws for which California is the posterchild. “And on regulation, Mr. President, Democrats were determined to follow the lead of the most regulated state in the union, especially on energy. “Never mind the fact that over the years Californians have faced rolling blackouts, been asked to limit their electricity usage, and paid some of the highest energy prices in the country – Democrats still tried to take the California plan national. “And on more than one occasion, the Biden administration basically gave the pen to California regulators to write rules that would affect all Americans. “That’s what happened with electric vehicles. “The Biden administration not only implemented its own California-style electric vehicle mandate; it also allowed California to impose a de facto EV mandate on the rest of the country. “Fortunately, Republicans … rescinded that mandate just last year. “And our work continues to block other mandates of the same sort. “We have a number of resolutions in the pipeline to address painful California regulations that have created de facto mandates for the entire country. “Senators Ricketts and Husted have resolutions related to California’s strict emissions standards targeting gas-powered vehicles. “Senator Schmitt has another on California’s unrealistic emissions standards for cars. “Senators Sullivan and Moreno have introduced resolutions related to commercial shipping vessels. “And Senator Lummis’ resolution would block a California rule restricting small motors for things like lawnmowers and leaf blowers. “Yes, Mr. President, as this list suggests, California will regulate just about anything that moves, ignoring the fact that these types of rules restrict consumer choice and lead to higher prices for working families. “As I mentioned, California’s rush to electrification strained its power grid to the point that it faced rolling blackouts and high energy prices, and regulators had to ask residents not to charge their electric vehicles at certain hours. “It confounds me as to why we would try to do the same thing nationwide. “And that’s exactly, Mr. President, what Democrats tried to do during the Biden administration. “Mr. President, over the summer, U.S. News and World Report released its ranking of states on a number of criteria. “Here’s how California ranked: “46th in energy, “41st in pre-K-12 education, “48th in employment, “And 50th – 50th – in affordability. “Last place. “And I struggle to think of a Democrat who has critiqued the way California is run. “Instead, as I’ve said, Democrats continue to seek to impose a California-style regulatory regime on the whole country. “And when it comes to illegal immigration, the national Democrat Party is now to the left – if you can imagine that – to the left of California. “Earlier this year, national Democrats tried to completely defund Border Patrol and immigration enforcement, a move that would have effectively made America a sanctuary country. “And I fully expect that a Democrat government here in Washington would be spending taxpayer dollars on benefits like health care for illegal immigrants, as California has done. “Mr. President, President Reagan – the governor of California in another era – once said, and I quote, ‘If a State is badly managed, the people will either do one of two things: They will either use their power at the polls to redress that, or they’ll go someplace else.’ “Well, Mr. President, Americans are leaving California in droves. “In each of the past six years, the Golden State has had the largest net loss of population on the U-Haul Index. “Businesses and employers are leaving, taking jobs and opportunities to other states. “That should be instructive – that should be instructive – to us here. “But Democrats don’t – or perhaps won’t – take the hint. “California ranks last – dead last – in affordability … but it is the first place Democrats look to for ideas on how to govern. “Mr. President, we can do better. “Republicans are doing better. “And that’s why so many Californians are moving to red states and leaving Democrats’ failed policies behind.”