President Trump and Gavin Newsom meet at LAX on 1/24/25 (Photo: @Gavin Newsom X)
While ‘Trump-Proofing’ CA, Gov. Gavin Newsom Asks Congress for $40 Billion in Fire Relief Funds
Congress and the Trump admin should tell Gov. Newsom to clean up his own state – then offer special federal tax break directly to the fire victims
By Katy Grimes, February 23, 2025 12:27 pm
In what can only be described as arrogance and chutzpah, nearly two weeks after signing legislation to authorize $50 million to fund litigating the Trump administration over California’s un-American and unconstitutional leftist policies and laws, Governor Gavin Newsom sent a letter Friday to Congress asking for $40 billion in fire relief funds.
The two funding bills Gov. Newsom signed appropriated $50 million to “Trump Proof” California.
It would surprise no one if Congress and the Trump administration told Newsom to pound sand.
As the Globe reported February 7th:
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation Friday authorizing a $50 million legal slush fund to “Trump-proof” the state against the President.
However, Gov. Newsom says the funding is not to be used for “immigration related legal services,” but the bill actually does as the Globe reported:
“SBX1-2 amends the Budget Act to add funding for Legal Services, including $25 million for legal assistance for Californians and immigrant communities.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced in early December his plan to “Trump-proof” the state against President Donald Trump’s anticipated policies. Newsom called the special session of the Legislature to grab another $50 million that the state doesn’t have so Attorney General Rob Bonta can spend more time and taxpayer money to file lawsuits against the Trump administration, litigate and “defend” California’s problematic policies, regulations and laws.
In his lengthy 14-page letter to Congress, Newsom boldly proclaims that “the state has stepped up to significantly expedite rebuilding efforts.”
“Make no mistake, Los Angeles will use this money wisely. California will ensure that funds will serve individuals, communities, property owners, and businesses that suffered losses from these deadly fires.”
Newsom says he has “nearly doubled the CalFire personnel budget, and increased wildfire funding tenfold.”
Some would correctly say this is a little late to help the Palisades, Altadena and Eaton fire victims. Others welcome any improvement in Newsom’s attention to the natural disasters he claims are coming more frequently (but did little to nothing about).
Yet, he did sign the two bills to pay for litigation against the Trump administration. And he signed the legislation AFTER the fires. How does that comport with his latest funding request from the President he campaigned against as Joe Biden’s stand-in? Gov. Newsom should have thought of that instead of stroking his own ego with the patently stupid “Trump-proofing” legislation.
Nor has the governor disavowed Senator Scott Wiener’s SB 222, the goal of which is to hold “Big Oil” responsible for natural disasters in California. Wiener’s new bill will allow insurance companies and victims of fires, floods, rain and sleet, wind events, mudslides, and earthquakes to sue fossil fuel companies for damages.
Talk about a real disaster waiting to happen. The governor should be openly campaigning against the destructive bill.
While increasing funding to CalFire, there is no evidence of Newsom actively and aggressively prioritizing actual forest management in wildfire-prone areas of the state.
Newsom has done nothing to provide more water to fire prone areas of the state. And no heads have rolled over the empty reservoirs in Pacific Palisades and Los Angeles during the January fires.
The Globe has suggested lawmakers hold a special legislative session to figure out how and why fire hydrants were dry as fire fighters fought the Palisade wildfires, rather than spending time and money on “Trump-proofing” California.
The Globe was in Pacific Palisades February 7th when President Trump’s Special Envoy and White House representative on the ground in California, Ric Grenell, met with fire victim residents, and representatives from federal, state and local agencies to get the ball rolling for cleanup, and so those whose homes did not burn down could gain access to them without the red tape they were already mired in.
Grenell also stressed that any federal funding coming to and through the State of California would have strings attached. And it should.
Also remember that while the fires were still burning, Gov. Newsom said Jan 13th, on rebuilding Pacific Palisades, he has a team “looking at reimagining L.A. 2.0. We’re just starting to lay out. I mean, we’re still fighting these fires, so we’re already talking to city leaders. We’re already talking to civic leaders. We’re already talking to business leaders, with nonprofits. We’re talking to labor leaders.”
Let’s hope the $40 billion doesn’t go for Newsom’s reimagining L.A. 2.0.
In 2020, Gov. Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 182, a fire mitigation bill for local governments, passed by both houses of the California Legislature. The governor said, “Wildfire resilience must become a more consistent part of land use and development decisions…” “HOWEVER it must be done while meeting our housing needs.” (Governor’s veto message HERE)
Let’s hope Congress and the Trump administration tell Governor Newsom to clean up his own state. And then offer a special federal tax break directly to the fire victims. This is something LA County should also be doing anyway – offering a property tax moratorium to fire victims. Why should they be paying property taxes on ashes?
- Gov. Newsom Sues Trump Admin Again – For Termination of State Libraries Federal Funding - April 7, 2025
- LA County Supervisors Hire Trump-Hater Stanley McChrystal for ‘Listening Tour’ of LA Fire Areas - April 7, 2025
- Journalist Matt Taibbi Files $10 Million Libel Lawsuit Against CA Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove - April 3, 2025
RELATED ARTICLES
-
-
September 12, 2018 -
October 12, 2018
I suggest that President Trump deals directly with fire victims. Not a penny to Corrupt California government. If Trump were to give Nitwit this money not a single house would be built after 5 years.
The guy is totally “incorrigible”:
– Incapable of being corrected or reformed.
“an incorrigible criminal.”
-Firmly rooted; ineradicable.
“incorrigible faults.”
– Difficult or impossible to control or manage.
“an incorrigible, spoiled child.”
We need to be “Newsom-proofed”: https://blog.electkevinkiley.com/newsom-proofing-california-2/
Newsom is becoming more unhinged and illogical with every day that passes. Seems to me this is happening because he knows the walls of his stupid narcissist’s playhouse are going to soon come crashing down on him any minute. Good. No one more richly deserves it. Who has worked harder to destroy California than he has?
Rick Carurso wants to provide FREE tiny homes to fire victims on their own lots. His idea of rebuilding the community First and Then rebuilding the houses is brilliant. I doubt I would agree with him on politics but this is the right idea.
“Rick Caruso’s organization (SteadfastLA) offering new homes to wildfire victims”
https://www.foxla.com/news/rick-caruso-new-homes-to-wildfire-victims-steadfastla
I read that over 50% of the homes burnt to the ground were rentals. I also read that most of these homes were under rent control. Of the remaining homes, many were occupied by senior citizens. Given the regulations and bureaucracy in California, rebuilding is going to take at least a decade (as in other recent fires) and owners in their later years would be better served to sell their property, take the money, and move on to more appropriate living accommodations somewhere else. What a mess. I don’t see this situation ending well.
Yes, Nofearmfd. Six years after the Camp Fire, the town of Paradise is rebuilt by only a third of it’s original size in homes and population.
https://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/town-of-paradise-continues-rebuilding-process-six-years-after-camp-fire/article_bd133c3c-9e59-11ef-9b00-abc6ca49497c.html
There is no good way out of this problem for Cali unless they rid themselves of the ideological belief system of those who control the state. Short of that, I would vote no on the state of Cali controlling a dime of the money for rebuilding this region. Claim eminent domain, put the money in escrow, hire builders, and quash onerous regulations. I’m sure people much smarter than me can make it work because putting Newsome in control would be as stupid as allowing Kamala to be in control because that’s who Cali will elect as their next governor. God help you..
When I see Karen Bass and Gavein Newsom I wonder if the elections in California have irregularities and improprieties?
BINGO
They have dominion (TM) ….. (same thing, ultimately)
It is impossible to reconcile Newsom’s political goals of higher office with the needs of California citizens who have lost their homes and communities. The “ask” of $40 billion without strings is therefore a. “No go” despite the urging of our two senators, Schiff and Padilla. No trust doesn’t begin to describe it. Who thinks the $40 billion wouldn’t be used for Newsom’s LA 2.0, to break up communities, and build low cost housing, and prop up the regime of this failing governor? Not this Californian.
Exactly Rod!
All Federal money must come with conditions as to how it is spent. This clown depends on Federal money to promote woke and green scam deals! Reimagine LA is the goal here. Newsolini said the quiet part out loud not too long after the fire.
Exactly what is this $40 billion supposed to do? Build homes for millonaires in Palisades? That’s what insurance is for and you can bet the owners of multi-million dollar home there already have it. It’s true that lots of people in the burned out areas like Altadena were middle class folks who might have purchased their homes decades ago when they were affordable or inherited it from parents. So maybe the government could provide low or interest free loans to rebuild but that’s as far as it should go.
I dont think the taxpayers should be building homes for people who lose their homes in natural disasters. Be insured or face the consequences.
But just giving Newsom and his corrupt cronies a $40 billion dollar slush fund to play in is dead wrong. It will be wasted and stolen to line the pockets of his fellow grifters.
Can’t imagine that the $40 BILLION Gavin requested will be used in any useful way for private property loss or public infrastructure repair from the Palisades’ and Eaton Fires’ devastation. More likely Gavin is drooling over getting it in order to re-stock the Train to Nowhere’s union slush fund, given the impending loss of the Train to Nowhere. That train boondoggle slush fund WOULD have been sent from the Democrat Kamala administration, had she won, God forbid, for President. Thus is it a huge stretch to say Gavin is kinda glad the fires happened? So he has a pressing reason to ask for lots and lots and lots of Fed money?
I sure as hell hope Ric Grenell and his proxies have plans to babysit —- 24/7, and in a micro-micro-micromanaging way —- Gavin Gruesome & the Gang’s EVERY MOVE, should these billions come through.
First Newsom should be pressured to stand before the legislature, to lead them in mass prayer for God’s forgiveness, followed by the unanimous passing of a resolution calling for return to Constitutional order and adherence his creator’s will.
Not that long ago Hair-gel Hitler Newsom was bragging how California had a multi-billion dollar surplus and that the state’s economy was the 5th largest in the world. As Katy Grimes concluded, Congress and the Trump administration should offer a special federal tax break directly to the fire victims and tell Newsom who created this mess to go pound sand.
For all those Californians who have lost their homes because the government misused, abused or refused applying their tax dollars to fund adequate water storage and fuel reduction, exemptions from federal, state and county taxes should be implemented until their homes are restored… a buyer would be granted a discount on state and county taxes. The Department of the Interior and state environmental agencies, including CARB should cut their budgets to make homeowners insurance affordable for those impacted by excessive premiums… and then make fire protection a priority.
Gubernor Newsom should avoid asking Congress to bail out California on his behalf… that would waste more of our tax dollars. Why not play the California Lottery? At least some residents could benefit.
Edit to read:
I really believe this to be worrisome conduct for a Governor to exhibit.
There is no good way out of this problem for Cali unless they rid themselves of the ideological belief system of those who control the state. Short of that, I would vote no on the state of Cali controlling a dime of the money for rebuilding this region. Claim eminent domain, put the money in escrow, hire builders, and quash onerous regulations. I’m sure people much smarter than me can make it work because putting Newsome in control would be as stupid as allowing Kamala to be in control because that’s who Cali will elect as their next governor. God help you…
End your love affair with illegal aliens and money will surface like the snakes in Sacramento.