Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) said federal relief should be withheld from California until officials in the state implement Republican policy proposals.
Davidson made the comment on Fox as wildfires rage in Los Angeles killing at least 10 people and damaging more than 9,000 homes, businesses and other buildings.
“The problem with California is forestry management,” Davidson told Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo in a clip highlighted by Mediaite. “If they want the money, then there should be consequences where they have to change their policies.”
“California wants the money without changing the policies that are making the problem bad or worse,” he added. “And I don’t see how Republicans could possibly support that. I mean, we support the people that are plagued by disaster, but we have to put pressure on the California government to change course here.”
Davidson’s comments come as several Republicans, including Donald Trump, have spent the last few days blaming California’s governor Gavin Newsom (D) for the fires.
Trump has repeatedly attacked Newsom on his Truth Social site falsely blaming the governor’s water management decisions and fish conservation efforts for the fires and for fire hydrants running dry in urban areas.
