A Republican Party congressman from Ohio drew criticism after saying Californians should not receive emergency aid until state policy is changed.
Representative Warren Davidson shared Fox Business that the fire-torn state should not receive disaster funds until state policies are changed to prevent wildfires from devastating the Golden State.
“No doubt we need to address fires, but the problem with California is forest management,” Davidson, 54, said.
“All these things they do make it much easier for fires to grow, spread and be huge… If they want the money, then there should be consequences if they have to change their policies,” the lawmaker added , despite more than 180,000 residents were displaced and houses were razed to the ground.
“California wants the money without changing policies that are making the problem worse [sic] or worse. And I don’t see how Republicans could support that.”
Davidson, who has been a Buckeye state representative since 2016, said GOP leaders “support the people who are plagued by disasters” but cannot support California leadership that is not working to protect against preemptive devastation.
The congressman doubled down on Xsaying Democratic state policy changes were a “reasonable” request.
He suggested that leaders “manage water so you have water for people and firefighters,” “manage forests so that dead fuel is removed instead of being retrained for future fires,” and “make insurance markets function so homeowners don’t go without catch fire. cover.’
Rep. Warren Davidson told Fox Business that the fire-torn state should not receive disaster funds until state policies are changed to prevent wildfires from devastating the Golden State.
“All these things they do make it much easier for fires to grow, spread and be huge. “If they want the money, there should be consequences if they have to change their policies,” Davidson, 54, said.
In response, several
“I swear to God that the next time Ohio has a disaster, I will fight tooth and nail to make sure our politicians don’t vote to give you a dime. Anti-American POS,” one X user wrote.
Another wrote, “Republicans are really trying to blame everything except addressing the giant elephant in the room that is climate change.”
A third tweeter agreed, writing: ‘Reasonable actions would be to follow the recommendations of climate scientists, not politicians. You know, skilled [people] versus power-hungry syncophants.’
‘How Christian of you. A piece of trash,” wrote a fourth.
“What about the next tornado to hit Ohio? Warren Davidson says, “F**k those people!” one user wrote on X.
‘It wasn’t a forest. How can you be so stupid? Warren Davidson tells Californians to go fuck themselves!!”
Another simply wrote: ‘Reasonable for you to say fuck yourself.’
Davidson was not welcomed with open arms for his argument, with many calling out the Midwestern politician — who lives in an area not prone to natural disasters — for wanting to deny people in need the opportunity to get back at politicians.
‘It is complete madness that people believe that we can regulate our way to a perfect utopia. Every action has a reaction,” wrote another.
According to sources, more than 180,000 people have been displaced from their homes since the fire broke out in Pacific Palisades on Tuesday. NBC Los Angeles.
In less than a week it has scorched more than 21,500 hectares Cal Fire data.
The disaster has already killed at least 11 people and destroyed more than 10,000 structures, including many celebrity mansions.
As of Saturday morning, only eight percent of the Palisades Fire was under control.
As of Thursday evening, Los Angeles County was still battling at least six major fires, most of which were barely contained.
The Archer Fire is zero percent contained, the Eaton Fire is only three percent contained, Kenneth is 50 percent, Hurst is 70 percent and Lidia is 98 percent, according to Cal Fire.
The extent of the destruction has prompted locals to demand answers from officials, amid reports that fire hydrants were running dry in some of the worst-hit areas.
He suggested that leaders “manage water so you have water for people and firefighters,” “manage forests so that dead fuel is removed instead of retrained for the future,” and “keep insurance markets functioning so homeowners don’t run out of fire ‘. cover’ (photo: Pacific Palisades)
More than 180,000 people have been displaced from their homes since the fire broke out in Pacific Palisades on Tuesday. It scorched more than 21,500 hectares in less than a week (photo: Pacific Palisades)
Los Angeles County also declared a state of emergency and the City of Angels was also hit by a fire tornado.
Newly released images showed the fire tornado forming near the city’s San Fernando Valley.
A fire tornado is a rare phenomenon that occurs when a fire and turbulent winds create a rotating column of fire, ash and smoke.
This is likely to happen during a wildfire due to the intense heat that rises quickly.
Early in the devastation, firefighters battling the blaze warned that they were running low on water and supplies, as evacuation warnings spread to Malibu and Calabasas.
Governor Gavin Newsom has since come under fire for cutting California’s funding for wildfires and forest resilience by $101 million, less than a year before devastating fires tore through Los Angeles.
California’s Democratic governor signed the cuts in June 2024, eliminating funding for seven programs aimed at preventing and combating potential wildfires in the state, Newsweek reports.
As of Thursday evening, Los Angeles County was still battling at least six major fires, most of which were barely contained (Photo: Palisades Fire)
The disaster has already killed at least 11 people and destroyed more than 10,000 structures, including many celebrity mansions (photo: Palisades Fire)
The cuts include a $5 million reduction for CAL FIRE’s fuel reduction teams, including funding for California National Guard vegetation management, an analysis by the outlet found.
The total for the program was reduced to $129 million amid claims that the state failed to clear brush and forestry that may have accelerated the flames.
Newsom’s budget cuts also cut $4 million from a forest heritage program intended to promote management practices for landowners and cut $28 million from funding for state preserves aimed at increasing wildfire resilience.
Another $8 million was cut from monitoring and research programs, much of which reportedly went to CAL FIRE, and $3 million from an interagency forest data hub.
Funding for a pilot program designed to make homes more resilient to wildfires through a hardening plan was cut by $12 million.
In response to Newsome’s leadership during the disaster, Donald Trump appealed to the governor and expected the 2028 presidential candidate to resign, while angry residents shouted at him as he surveyed the damage.