Kamala Harris: Trump administration ‘targeting’ California for political purposes

Presidential hopeful Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) called the Trump administration’s handling of car emissions talks with California “targeting our state for political purposes.”

The White House, Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) halted talks with the with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), saying they could not come to a solution on clean car standards. 

“The administration’s decision to walk away from negotiations with California on clean car standards is irresponsible & follows a troubling pattern of targeting our state for political purposes,” she tweeted Thursday. “Everyone has the right to breathe clean air & I will continue to fight for that right.”

The administration’s decision to walk away from negotiations with California on clean car standards is irresponsible & follows a troubling pattern of targeting our state for political purposes. Everyone has the right to breathe clean air & I will continue to fight for that right.

— Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) February 21, 2019

{mosads} “Despite the administration’s best efforts to reach a common-sense solution, it is time to acknowledge that CARB has failed to put forward a productive alternative,” the DOT, EPA and White House said in a joint statement on Thursday. 

“Accordingly, the administration is moving forward to finalize a rule later this year with the goal of promoting safer, cleaner, and more affordable vehicles,”  the statement said. 

Other California politicians including Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D) also blasted the administration.

Harris launched a presidential bid earlier this year. She is facing a crowded field vying for the Democratic nomination including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).