Newsom: Nixon and Reagan ‘rolling in their graves right now’ over what GOP has become

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) told CNN that former Presidents Nixon and Reagan, both Californians, were “rolling in their graves” over the Trump administration’s move to block the Golden State from imposing its own emissions standards.

“Federalism be damned, states’ rights, 10^th Amendment be damned, Ronald Reagan [and] Richard Nixon be damned,” Newsom told CNN’s Don Lemon Wednesday night, noting that Reagan had paved the way for such steps as California governor.

{mosads}“They’d be rolling in their graves right now at what the Republican administration is doing, and moreover what the Republican Party is doing: complete silence on states’ rights but also free enterprise,” Newsom added.

Noting that four automakers voluntarily agreed to the standards, which prompted a Justice Department antitrust investigation, Newsom asked CNN’s Don Lemon, “Who is Donald Trump actually helping? He’s not helping those four companies that have voluntarily agreed to California’s higher standard.”

He added the inquiry had “chilled” other companies’ willingness to agree to the standards.

“They’re calling CEOs to the mat and threatening them and using the Department of Justice to go after them to keep them from doing what they think is in their best interest and in their customers’ best interest.”

The administration on Thursday formally revoked the state’s tailpipe waiver under the Clean Air Act, citing the Environmental Protection Agency’s One National Program Rule, which gives the federal government sole authority over emissions standards.