Fearing a federal rollback of longstanding protections for air quality, clean water, endangered species and workers’ rights, California Democrats are pursuing legislation that would cement those environmental and labor regulations in state law.

The trio of bills announced Thursday also seek to use state authority to block private development of federal lands in California and extend some safeguards to federal whistleblowers.

As the Paris climate agreement now joins the litany of great American things that President Donald Trump has debased, there is this silver lining: More of the world is starting to think like Californians.

Clean air and water ought to be nonpartisan issues. Liberal or conservative, rich or poor, no living creature should have to worry that life’s essentials are unsafe.

Yet, disappointingly, President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans seem bent on dismantling environmental protections, using jobs as a pretext. It’s a deeply misguided ideological stance with real public health implications.

Californians can, and should, push back.

The Legislature should join with Gov. Jerry Brown to build a Green Wall around California.

It’s the only way to preserve the environmental protections Californians value as President Donald Trump sets about dismantling the Environmental Protection Agency.

A package of bills introduced by California Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León and three Southern California lawmakers would make the existing federal clean water, clean air and endangered species protections state law.

Fox 40

SACRAMENTO -- Not everyone marching at the Capitol Wednesday was a U.S. Citizen, but all 1,500 of them are proud Californians.

The crowd of marchers urged lawmakers to support SB 54, commonly referred to as the "Sanctuary State Bill."

Right now, California cannot stop federal immigration officers from conducting deportation raids. But if the measure is approved, the state can prevent local peace officers from helping the feds enforce immigration laws.

Supporters said this would keep undocumented families together.