As L.A. burns, Calif. Dems vote down $1 billion to fund on-going wildfire prevention

While the Legislature approved Newsom’s $2.5 billion proposal for aid for Los Angeles, a Republican-led effort to provide an additional $1 billion for prevention efforts across the state was shot down.

California Democrats voted against $1 billion in wildfire prevention funding for the entire state on Thursday. 

Republicans in the state legislature attempted to push the funding through a budget amendment that was only considering aid to Los Angeles after the recent wildfire destruction. 

The big picture: Assembly Republicans introduced an amendment to Assembly Bill 41X to provide $1 billion in wildfire prevention, which included money for forest management and fuel reduction. 

  • The rejected proposal would have amended the $2.5 billion in Los Angeles recovery support that Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed. 
  • Republicans argued the $1 billion amendment is needed to prevent disasters such as the situation in the Los Angeles area, which has burned over 40,000 acres and destroyed nearly 18,000 structures. 
  • Instead, the Legislature passed Newsom’s $2.5 billion proposal to help with the removal of waste, provide shelters for wildfire victims and to enhance the response to ongoing fires. 

Go deeper: Newsom’s proposal was split into two bills: ABX1-4/SBX1-4 and ABX1-5/SBX1-5. 

  • The first bill provides $1.5 billion for fire response and recovery in the Los Angeles area, including funding for evacuations, shelters, hazardous waste removal and environmental testing. 
  • The second bill allocates up to $1 billion for further response in the Los Angeles area, as well as $4 million for the region to help with the rebuilding process and $1 million to help school districts that were affected by the wildfires. 

What they’re saying: “Wildfire prevention is a glaring omission from the relief package being passed today,” said Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (R–Yuba City). “We can’t keep underfunding fire prevention and waiting to respond until after a disaster. We know what needs to be done – it’s just a matter of providing the resources and mustering the political will to protect our communities.”

Total
0
Shares
Related Posts