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Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(122,752 posts)
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 09:37 PM Jan 2025

"There will be strings attached": GOP Sen. says Los Angeles wildfire aid won't be "blank check"

Source: Salon

GOP lawmakers are already considering how they can use the Los Angeles wildfires to extract concessions from California.

In a Sunday stop on CBS' "Face the Nation," Wyoming GOP Sen. John Barrasso said the wildfires were a symptom of "gross mismanagement in California by elected officials" and imagined hearings ahead of any congressional approval of federal aid.

"There can’t be a blank check on this, however, because people want to make sure that as rebuilding occurs... that these sorts of things can’t happen again," he said. "The policies of the liberal administration out there, I believe have made these fires worse.”

Barrasso went on to envision an aid package with "strings attached."




Read more: https://www.salon.com/2025/01/12/there-will-be-strings-attached-sen-says-los-angeles-wildfire-aid-wont-be-blank-check/
42 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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"There will be strings attached": GOP Sen. says Los Angeles wildfire aid won't be "blank check" (Original Post) Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Jan 2025 OP
57% of California's forests are on FEDERAL land. Basso8vb Jan 2025 #1
Just a suggestion lonely bird Jan 2025 #2
"Fuck every Republican in office." Dave Bowman Jan 2025 #10
Works too. lonely bird Jan 2025 #24
Matt Gaetz looks up RANDYWILDMAN Jan 2025 #39
What's that mean? Trump's ass must be kissed? OAITW r.2.0 Jan 2025 #3
Well one thing is for sure sdfernando Jan 2025 #4
They WERE in charge for a long time. Ursus Rex Jan 2025 #41
I bet if we start a GoFundMe for Ca relief Marthe48 Jan 2025 #5
There's already a GFM. ❤️ littlemissmartypants Jan 2025 #21
We'll see what you say when it's a red state disaster hadEnuf Jan 2025 #6
No strings attached to NC Hurricane relief, I believe. maxsolomon Jan 2025 #38
Are strings arrached to red state checks? CrispyQ Jan 2025 #7
No, Florida can keep on building on barrier islands as long as it's run by Republicans. sop Jan 2025 #27
And condos that collapse due to skirting the rules. hadEnuf Jan 2025 #42
As if red states don't face natural disasters all the time IronLionZion Jan 2025 #8
What, the same strings attached to the aid for Florida and North Carolina? Which was none other than the usual. surfered Jan 2025 #9
So, we have to insure that there'll never be another drought that renders the brush tinder dry, and also stop the wind? patphil Jan 2025 #11
For a US senator, he sure hates Americans, and the people living there sakabatou Jan 2025 #12
The next Rebl2 Jan 2025 #13
Hmmm. Are they raking the forests in Wyoming? surfered Jan 2025 #14
It appears Wyoming had forest fires for which FEMA supplied aid. surfered Jan 2025 #15
I already said that Newsom is going to have to give Trump something to get the federal dollars. Irish_Dem Jan 2025 #16
What do you think is appropriate for him to "give"? displacedvermoter Jan 2025 #18
It is baffling that people do not understand Trump is a ruthless psychopath. Irish_Dem Jan 2025 #25
So what do you believe the Governor of California displacedvermoter Jan 2025 #31
If it was a red state like Florida it The Third Doctor Jan 2025 #17
The cruelty is the point. greatauntoftriplets Jan 2025 #19
Absolutely! The Effers! 🤬 electric_blue68 Jan 2025 #20
California is the richest and most populous state pfitz59 Jan 2025 #22
THIS! intheflow Jan 2025 #37
Thank you Senator Embarrassment. Buddyzbuddy Jan 2025 #23
I don't think so...................... Lovie777 Jan 2025 #26
Fuck you Barrasso. aeromanKC Jan 2025 #28
Expert ignorance on parade bucolic_frolic Jan 2025 #29
go fuck yourself Barrasso you POS, from the LEAST populated state in the union. More and more I wish that it were JohnSJ Jan 2025 #30
Newsom will come out of this very strong. PennRalphie Jan 2025 #32
Strings attached. Okay, if Wyoming or any of the other republican states need aid, such as wildfires in Idaho, Wyoming, SWBTATTReg Jan 2025 #33
The convicted felon and his band of republican thief's must be allowed kick backs to republianmushroom Jan 2025 #34
Don't they remember the last time they went down this road? BobTheSubgenius Jan 2025 #35
Big words Old Crank Jan 2025 #36
The people of Wyoming are lucky to have him in Washington. madamesilverspurs Jan 2025 #40

Dave Bowman

(5,115 posts)
10. "Fuck every Republican in office."
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 09:56 PM
Jan 2025

I read this line too fast and thought the last word was orifice.

sdfernando

(5,708 posts)
4. Well one thing is for sure
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 09:46 PM
Jan 2025

If rethugs had been in charge the regulations and building codes would have been so much more lax the whole damned LA and surrounding counties would go up in flames!

Ursus Rex

(369 posts)
41. They WERE in charge for a long time.
Mon Jan 13, 2025, 10:40 PM
Jan 2025

I’d imagine a lot of the problems are legacies of that era.

Marthe48

(20,599 posts)
5. I bet if we start a GoFundMe for Ca relief
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 09:49 PM
Jan 2025

donations would make a federal response look puny.

I don't recall idiot rwnj pulling this garbage when NC was flooded by Hurricane Helene.

maxsolomon

(36,536 posts)
38. No strings attached to NC Hurricane relief, I believe.
Mon Jan 13, 2025, 04:13 PM
Jan 2025

I wouldn't mind if Congress did something like required Fire-Wise Construction for anything up in the hills.

sop

(14,124 posts)
27. No, Florida can keep on building on barrier islands as long as it's run by Republicans.
Mon Jan 13, 2025, 09:52 AM
Jan 2025

surfered

(6,633 posts)
9. What, the same strings attached to the aid for Florida and North Carolina? Which was none other than the usual.
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 09:53 PM
Jan 2025

I normally don’t label people, but he’s worthy of an exception. What an a**hole!

patphil

(7,791 posts)
11. So, we have to insure that there'll never be another drought that renders the brush tinder dry, and also stop the wind?
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 10:02 PM
Jan 2025

Even if they had 100 yard fire breaks, the high winds would have driven the embers over the break, rendering them useless.
This is what California has been doing to minimize this kind of disaster:
https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/01/08/california-forest-management-hotter-drier-climate/

This shit only happens when Republicans are deciding on aid for states that vote Democratic.
If California had voted for Trump, there would be no such conditions.

Rebl2

(16,285 posts)
13. The next
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 10:12 PM
Jan 2025

time a hurricane occurs in the south like TX, FL, MS, etc., and there will be no blank checks, and there will be strings attached. No one , for instance, should be allowed to build anything on a beach. No houses, restaurants, hotels. Nothing.

displacedvermoter

(3,727 posts)
18. What do you think is appropriate for him to "give"?
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 11:12 PM
Jan 2025

X number of immigrants workers? Open permission for unlimited offshore drilling rights? A promise to allow the extermination of the smelts Trump hates so much? A promise not to run for president?

Some of what I am reading here of late is baffling to me.

Irish_Dem

(69,519 posts)
25. It is baffling that people do not understand Trump is a ruthless psychopath.
Mon Jan 13, 2025, 09:41 AM
Jan 2025

And he is only pay for play.
He will NEVER sign off on anything unless he gets something in return.

It is foolish to underestimate Trump.
He is quite dangerous.

It is obvious what Trump will demand.
He is already demanding it from everyone.
Money, power, loyalty, prestige.
Or silence.
And we know what he demands from women.

displacedvermoter

(3,727 posts)
31. So what do you believe the Governor of California
Mon Jan 13, 2025, 10:07 AM
Jan 2025

should be willing to "give" Trump? You got ideas to share? Or you just advising general capitulation in advance?

Newsom is already waiving environmental regulations on reconstruction before the fires are even under control. Want him to do what else?

One thing I do want all Democrats in Congress to give is an assurance that should the GOP fuck over California and attach strings and restrictions on aid to fellow citizens in need, that unlike Joe Biden's constant turning the other cheek, there will be a reckoning. South Carolina and Florida will no longer be assured unlimited, seemingly annual aid, for those whose homes continue to be washed away. Texas and it's half assed power grid can figure out its own way out of winter blizzards.

The Third Doctor

(434 posts)
17. If it was a red state like Florida it
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 11:01 PM
Jan 2025

Would be no questions asked. The cons are selfish and lack empathy.

pfitz59

(11,472 posts)
22. California is the richest and most populous state
Mon Jan 13, 2025, 01:07 AM
Jan 2025

It has the means to 'punch back' against GOP fuckery. Just a matter of time before the daggers come out.

intheflow

(29,554 posts)
37. THIS!
Mon Jan 13, 2025, 03:40 PM
Jan 2025

Here's what Newsome should give him: California's pay-in to the federal government, 14% of the nation's GDP. No federal help? Fine. California can keep that money and use it to recover all by themselves.

Buddyzbuddy

(834 posts)
23. Thank you Senator Embarrassment.
Mon Jan 13, 2025, 02:07 AM
Jan 2025

I'm sure without your input, California was going to rebuild so we could go through this all over again. This from the party that wants to end regulations because it's just gov't red tape. Who needs all of those environmental reviews and energy saving regulations. And don't forget upgrades that are required under ADA requirements.
Fu..ing assh.le!

JohnSJ

(98,536 posts)
30. go fuck yourself Barrasso you POS, from the LEAST populated state in the union. More and more I wish that it were
Mon Jan 13, 2025, 09:56 AM
Jan 2025

possible for the blue states to unite into their own country, and let the red states stop mooching tax dollars from the blue states.



PennRalphie

(410 posts)
32. Newsom will come out of this very strong.
Mon Jan 13, 2025, 10:28 AM
Jan 2025

There’s going to be so much money flowing into CA, all with no strings attached. Newsom will spend it very wisely. There are so many incredibly successful people there, in the arts, sciences. Just think of the real estate developers. I read here on DU that Taylor Swift donated 25 million! With no strings attached. I’m sure many other successful Californians will do the same. Hopefully, it will shame him with the little federal money that’s needed, since Californians took care of their own.

Newsom will come out of this totally on top and trump will be in the gutter.

SWBTATTReg

(25,250 posts)
33. Strings attached. Okay, if Wyoming or any of the other republican states need aid, such as wildfires in Idaho, Wyoming,
Mon Jan 13, 2025, 12:41 PM
Jan 2025

or any of the other western states, as well as any of the southern states (providing that they have republican reps in their state and fed. governments), then no aid should flow to these states either, if you're going to tie shoelaces to the Calif. aid pkg.

Loudmouths, and wanting to hurt other Americans. Scumbags all of them.

republianmushroom

(19,827 posts)
34. The convicted felon and his band of republican thief's must be allowed kick backs to
Mon Jan 13, 2025, 01:22 PM
Jan 2025

make them rich/richer. No kick backs no money republican policy.

BobTheSubgenius

(11,992 posts)
35. Don't they remember the last time they went down this road?
Mon Jan 13, 2025, 01:23 PM
Jan 2025

It turned out that the vast majority of the CA land in question was federal, but I never heard one of them speak about their own mismanagement. Or of the idea of checking your facts before you open your mouth, simply to change feet.

madamesilverspurs

(16,244 posts)
40. The people of Wyoming are lucky to have him in Washington.
Mon Jan 13, 2025, 05:16 PM
Jan 2025

My friends in Wyoming were shocked to hear me say that. Then I suggested that if Barrasso, an orthopedic surgeon, was at home practicing medicine the same way he practices legislating half the state would be on crutches and the other half would be crawling.


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