Two Republican senators from storm-ravaged states oppose regulating California wildfire aid

Republican lawmakers from a state ravaged by natural disasters oppose halting or limiting federal aid to California residents affected by the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.

“I would ask these people to put themselves in the same position as the people of western North Carolina,” Republican Sen. Thom Tillis said of some conservatives who have suggested placing conditions on federal aid to California. .

“You have to be consistent on disaster benefits, period. I’m clear — you solved those people’s problems; we can talk about the problems we caused here,” he added.

Last September, Hurricanes Helen and Milton caused catastrophic flooding that wiped communities off the map in western North Carolina, caused tens of billions of dollars in damage, and killed more than 200 people in several other states. Last month, congressional leaders provided $100 billion in disaster relief funding for these and other disasters, with no strings attached.

But now, with a blue state struck by a natural disaster, some Republicans are proposing to hold off on aid until California makes policy changes to its forest and water management or its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

“You can’t write a blank check on this,” Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said on CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday, blaming “the policies of the liberal administration.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) also told reporters on Monday that discussions are ongoing about tying disaster aid to raising the debt ceiling. Republicans want to raise the debt ceiling, in part to fund an extension of the 2017 Republican tax cuts.

“You can’t go out and get the money you need unless you raise the debt limit,” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said Monday.

But Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, the former governor of hurricane-prone Florida, said Congress should act to provide relief to California wildfire victims without strings attached.

“I think we should provide assistance just like we do to everyone else,” Scott told The Huffington Post.

“There are existing requirements. I mean, this money is not free… FEMA has rules,” he added of the government disaster relief agency.

Democrats noted that disaster-prone red states like Florida could face similar push to condition aid in the future under a Democratic-controlled Congress.

“There are a lot of people in the insurance business in Florida, for example, who are not going to be happy about all of these conditions and strange policies that are being discussed,” Wyden told reporters Monday.

Meanwhile, Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, laughed off the threat of conditional relief. Played an important role in disaster relief assistance.

“This will never happen,” Schatz said. “I think once Texas or Florida or Mississippi goes through a disaster, that idea goes away.”