California lawmakers swear in for new 2-year session

California's legislative session began yesterday with a mix of pomp and circumstance and sweeping declarations from Democrats about the policies they'll pursue, from tackling climate change to ending childhood poverty.

Assembly Speaker Democrat Anthony Rendon from Paramount also promised to keep up the fight against President Trump, an effective foil that allowed Democrats to gain historic margins in both the Senate and Assembly in November.

After being nominated by his colleagues for another term at the chamber's helm Rendon said "two years ago, before that man even took office, I said California must be defiant whenever justice, fairness and righteousness require, and we have backed up those words with action."

Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Supreme Court Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye administered the oath of office to all 80 Assembly members and half of the 40 senators, respectively. Senators again chose Democrat Toni Atkins from San Diego as the president pro tempore.