Another GOP lawmaker is suggesting that Republicans use their unilateral control of Washington DC to force California to implement Republican policies in exchange for disaster relief in the middle of the deadly wildfires.
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) told CBS News on Sunday that Californians should expect “strings attached” to money that is approved for the wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles killing at least 16 people so far and destroyed more than 9,000 homes, businesses, schools and other buildings.
“I expect that there will be strings attached to money that is ultimately approved, and it has to do with being ready the next time, because this was a gross failure this time,” Barrasso told host Margaret Brennan when she asked if Republicans will help Americans even if they do not agree with their politics.
During the interview Barrasso also slammed what he calls the “gross mismanagement in California by elected officials” and “the policies of the liberal administration out there, I believe have made these fires worse.”
Last week, another Republican Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) called for federal disaster aid to be withheld from California until the state implements Republican proposals on land management.
Republicans and Donald Trump have seized on the wildfires in the liberal state to criticize the state’s leadership and slam California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) who is widely expected to run for president in 2028.
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.
Newsom on Sunday slammed the president-elect for politicizing the tragedy and spreading misinformation, saying his attacks are “incomprehensible to anyone that understands water policy in the state.”
“Responding to Donald Trump’s insults, we would spend another month,” Newsom added in the interview with NBC News’ Jacob Soboroff. “I’m very familiar with them. Every elected official that he disagrees with is very familiar with them.”
