California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Thursday plans to file a lawsuit in response to the Senate blocking the state's first-in-the-nation rule banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035.

The Senate voted on Thursday to ax California’s phaseout of gas-powered cars, making a controversial move to sidestep the parliamentarian in the process. The vote was 51-44, and the measure

California’s authority to set environmental rules that are tougher than national standards had never been challenged by Congress. Until now.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune and several other top GOP senators Tuesday pledged to vote to nix California's Clean Air Act emissions waiver.