Donald Trump and Republican congressional leaders are reportedly discussing plans to attach reduction funds for victims of the California wildfires to a plan to boost the federal debt ceiling. If the social gathering goes by means of with this technique, it might politicize the response to one of many worst pure disasters in current historical past.
Politico reviews that the concept was mentioned on Sunday throughout a dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property throughout a gathering between Trump and Republican congressional caucus leaders and appropriators “with major influence.”
The debt ceiling is the restrict set by Congress on how a lot cash the federal authorities can borrow from the U.S. Treasury to satisfy its monetary obligations. Trump tried to stress Congress into eliminating the ceiling in December when a congressional spending invoice was being debated however the provision was not included. Senate Majority Chief John Thune not too long ago stated Trump is upset about it and is pressuring congressional Republicans to make it occur.
Republicans would seemingly want Democratic help to boost the restrict because the social gathering’s majority within the Home is so small and plenty of Republican members wouldn’t again the home spending Democrats would ask for in trade for his or her backing.
However connecting the debt ceiling to fireplace reduction would imply making a hostage state of affairs the place determined Individuals wouldn’t obtain federal assist till a Republican legislative demand is met.
Hearth crews battle the Kenneth Hearth within the West Hills part of Los Angeles.
In accordance with the county of Los Angeles, at the least 24 individuals have died as a result of fireplace and the dying toll is predicted to rise. Greater than 40,000 acres have burned and over 150,000 individuals have needed to evacuate. A whole bunch, if not hundreds, of properties and companies have been destroyed.
Tying California reduction to debt ceiling calls for echoes Trump’s strategy to blue states when he was within the presidency. He and different Republicans attacked Democratic governors asking for federal assist throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, and officers in his administration lobbied towards serving to these states throughout deployment of the COVID vaccine.
In contrast, President Joe Biden deployed federal help to Republican-voting states who have been hit by hurricanes on the finish of 2024 and lobbied Congress for assist for these areas.
Simply days earlier than he’s inaugurated for a second time period, Trump and Republicans are making clear that they intend to place partisanship forward of uniting the nation—whilst catastrophic occasions unfold.
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