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Lawmakers play high-stakes game of chicken in fight over California fire aid

9 0
16.01.2025

The battle over wildfire aid for Los Angeles is quickly evolving into a game of high-stakes chicken.

Many Republicans are demanding conditions on any new emergency funding, blaming Democratic leaders in California for exacerbating the crisis.

Democrats are rejecting conditions outright, accusing Republicans of exploiting the disaster to score political points.

And both sides appear ready to stand firm, gambling that the other side will face the brunt of the public backlash if a partisan clash delays aid to victims of what is shaping up to be among the most damaging — and most expensive — natural disasters in the country’s history.

“It does set up this clash,” said Rep. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.). “But sometimes you've got to have principles and morals for what you're standing for. And I think the people will see who's playing a game.”

Republicans contend that the real game is happening in California, where Democratic leaders have mismanaged their fire-prevention programs and shouldn’t be given a blank check from Washington, even amid the disaster.

“It’s gotta be more than paid for, they’ve gotta own it,” said Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.). “We cannot borrow money we don’t have to pay for something that is really the fault of the legislation, fault of the governor.”

What specific conditions on emergency funding GOP leaders will demand — if any — remains unclear. But different factions of the House Republican Conference are making their preferences known.

Some GOP lawmakers want any new aid to be coupled with a debt ceiling hike. Others, including leaders........

© The Hill