Katie Porter, the Democratic frontrunner in Californias gubernatorial race, pointedly sidestepped a direct question on English-language requirements for commercial truck drivers, opting instead to denounce racism and attack President Donald Trump.
The exchange unfolded during the first California gubernatorial debate since Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) exited the race amid sexual misconduct allegations, as reported by The Post Millennial. The moderator asked Porter whether applicants for Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDLs) should be required to demonstrate English proficiency, a question rooted in a serious public-safety dispute between California and Washington.
The issue arose after US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy moved to withhold roughly $160 million in federal transportation funds from California. The state had allegedly failed to cancel more than 17,000 illegally issued CDLs granted to non-citizens or illegal immigrant truck drivers, following a series of fatal crashes involving drivers who reportedly could not read or speak English.
Do you believe that English language proficiency should be strictly enforced for truck drivers? the debate host asked Porter on Wednesday. Rather than address whether drivers hauling tens of thousands of pounds on public highways should be able to read road signs and safety warnings, Porter immediately pivoted to partisan warfare.
I would absolutely fight the Trump administration, Porter responded, adding that the job of the California governor is to protect Californians. And right now, she continued, that includes protecting them from Donald Trump.
Porter, the leading Democratic candidate, then turned her fire on her Republican rival, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, still refusing to engage with the core safety question. She attacked Bianco for previously stating that Californians are tired of Democrats injecting racism into every policy debate.
I am stunned that Mr. Bianco would say, to black and brown Californians to immigrants who are being terrorized and racially profiled that you have to get over racism. Its not something that you get over; its something that you fight, said Porter. The host did not challenge her for dodging the English-proficiency issue before moving on to the next candidate.
Wednesdays debate featured six contenders vying to lead a state already grappling with crime, illegal immigration, and crumbling infrastructure. Two Republicans, Sheriff Bianco and former Fox News host Steve Hilton, shared the stage with four Democrats: billionaire Tom Steyer, former Biden HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, and Porter, whose refusal to answer a straightforward safety question underscored the widening gulf between identity politics and basic governance.
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