SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday asked legislative leaders to approve at least $2.5 billion in response to the wildfires that have devastated Los Angeles County. It’s a move that expands the focus of California’s special legislative session beyond strictly fighting President-elect Trump.
Wildfire aid comes as unprecedented wildfires kill at least 25 people and leave a trail of destruction across the state, giving Democrats in statehouses more time to wage a national battle with Trump. It comes amid growing pressure to shorten the deal.
Newsom expanded the scope of the special session with a proclamation asking Congress to approve $1 billion for emergency response, cleanup and recovery in Los Angeles County, with the state hoping to retrieve the money through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. are.
If approved by lawmakers, the plan would make $1.5 billion available in state funds to prepare for the threat of firestorms, storms and other natural disasters, on top of federal disaster funds. Another amount, yet to be determined, will support school reconstruction and repairs.
“California is orchestrating the Marshall Plan to help Los Angeles rebuild faster and stronger, including billions of dollars in new accelerated state funding. This will allow us to more quickly reach the thousands of people who have lost their homes and livelihoods in these firestorms,” Newsom said. statement.
The governor originally called a special session less than two days after the presidential election and filed a bill with the Justice Department in anticipation of a revival of legal battles between states and the federal government over the environment, health care, and other policy areas. He urged lawmakers to increase funding. It unfolded during the president-elect’s first term.
The quick announcement instantly revived the California-versus-Trump picture that put the Golden State at the forefront of Democratic resistance to the White House and boosted Mr. Newsom’s national profile. But the wildfires in Los Angeles County are creating a scenario in which state leaders need to work with their Republican opponents immediately on their first day in office for the benefit of Californians.
Mr. Biden declared a major disaster and promised full federal support to support immediate response efforts, but Mr. Trump will be in charge during the cleanup and recovery period.
Newsom sent a letter to President Trump on Friday inviting the incoming leader to California to meet with fire victims, survey the devastation in Los Angeles County and express gratitude to first responders. Trump has not responded to his claims that Newsom was responsible for the wildfires, but campaign donor and confidant Elon Musk appeared in the Pacific Palisades on Sunday, using a Tesla Cybertruck to provide free Wi-Fi. Promised to provide Fi.
In a brief interview Saturday on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport after greeting firefighters from Mexico, Newsom said he had “absolutely” no regrets about calling the special meeting and said he had “absolutely” no regrets about calling the special meeting. “It would be negligent not to prepare,” he said. values.
“I was involved in 122 lawsuits with the Trump administration, not just during Mr. Brown’s tenure,” Newsom said. “In 2018, before I got here, he tried to withhold disaster aid from the people of Orange County, California. He did the same thing in Utah. He did the same thing in Georgia. He did the same thing in Puerto Rico. It’s peak Trump.”
But even if the governor stands his ground on his choices, the expansion of the special session reflects a recognition that the message from Sacramento needs to change as Republicans harshly criticize the party in charge. Lawmakers canceled a special Congressional hearing on Tuesday as many remained in their Los Angeles districts in light of the fires.
Earlier Monday, Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) amended a bill to increase special legislative funding to fight Trump from $25 million to $50 million, with the increase going to deportations. He said the money would be used to support immigrants fighting the war. The plan sparked backlash even before it was officially announced.
“At a time when California should be focusing its efforts on responding to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, Democratic lawmakers’ priorities are hiring government lawyers to fight a hypothetical battle with the federal government and criminal illegal immigration. “The disconnect between what Californians need and what Democrats value is staggering,” James Gallagher, the Republican leader in Congress, told X. It’s a thing,” he said.
A total of $10 million will go to “vulnerable populations at risk of detention, deportation, eviction, wage theft, intimate partner violence, and other acts that endanger their safety as a result of potential or actual crimes.” The funds will be used to provide grants to legal aid organizations that support people in need. According to the revised law, it is defined as “federal action”.
An additional $10 million will go to organizations that provide immigration-related services, including deportation defense. And the $5 million will supplement existing California Access to Justice Commission grants to nonprofit legal service providers. The committee supports poor communities, including immigrants.
The funding comes amid President Trump’s promise to carry out mass deportations after taking office. But even before the inauguration, Border Patrol agents arrested dozens of migrants in Bakersfield last week and said they plan to expand the operation to Fresno and Sacramento.
Supporters said the money was needed urgently.
“This week’s raids targeting farmworkers, including racial profiling and random arrests of individuals in public places, provide a chilling preview of what’s to come,” said a joint statement from the California Immigrant Justice Collaborative. said Executive Director Lisa Knox. “This special session will highlight the bold actions California leaders must take to protect the civil rights of our communities and ensure our economy is not derailed by short-sighted and divisive federal policies. It should be a harbinger.”
Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) said in a statement that the governor’s disaster funding request is “a down payment to begin cleaning up neighborhoods and begin the process of rebuilding lives.” He pledged to work quickly with House Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) and Newsom to get the funding people desperately need.
“I have seen firsthand the devastation in Altadena, Malibu and the Palisades,” Rivas said in a statement. “People have lost their homes, livelihoods, and sense of security. They are scared and angry, and we must act quickly to quickly deploy resources for cleanup and recovery. Los Angeles legislators are listening to residents and will provide feedback to the discussion as they consider the governor’s proposal.”
Luna reported from Sacramento and Castillo from Washington, DC. Times staff writer Julia Wick contributed to this report.
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