In 2018, California suffered through some of the worst wildfires in history – even San Francisco was bathed in orange due to smoke unleashed over 100 miles away. Donald Trump – then president, believed he should not send federal funds because Californians don’t vote for him. This time, Trump is making it clear ahead of time that California won’t get federal funds unless the state bends to his will. This wouldn’t happen if California was a red state.
An American president who strong arms disaster funding unless the state agrees with his-her priorities is an extremely dangerous president. This is federal money, coming from all states, any one state that is threatened in a situation like this, one that a red state would face, is obscene. According to Poltico:
Speaking to reporters from a golf course in Rancho Palos Verdes on Friday, Trump said he would strong-arm California’s governor into agreeing to send more water from California’s lush north to farm fields in its drier south.
Speaking from a golf course in Southern California is so ironic because golf courses need to be drenched in irrigated water taken from the general water supply.
To be sure, California has a very serious water problem and it is compounded by the fact that they even grow rice in the northern valley. It really should be sent to Southern California. But such a move would result in putting farmers out of work and it would be expensive to compensate them and then push the water south. Of course, leaving So. Cal. without water is even more expensive and is non-negotiable.
As for water policy, we go back to Politico:
“Gavin Newscum [Newsom] is going to sign those papers,” Trump said, seemingly referencing a 2020 federal decision to increase water deliveries by weakening endangered species rules that Newsom sued over. “If he doesn’t sign those papers, we won’t give him money to put out all his fires, and if we don’t give him the money to put out his fires, he’s got problems.”
No. We all have problems. It is up to California to solve its own water problem even with federal funds dependent on weakening the Endangered Species Act. California should be able to make its own decisions, not strong armed by a strong man leader.
California is the second most state, per population, sending federal dollars to the treasury. It is what people call a “donor state,” whereas many states – mostly red, rural states – receive far more dollars than those send, a welfare state, if you will.
But voting for Trump matters, at least to Trump, and he’s right in that the state with the largest population base will not vote for him or any Republican anytime soon. But no other American president has withheld funds based on politics. Recall that Joe Biden immediately sent funds to Louisiana and Florida for hurricane relief. He also visited those states as a Democratic president.
This is a very serious threat. Donald Trump can be counted on when he’s talking about policy based on MAGA or non-MAGA. What is next? Women’s rights? Healthcare? Education funding? A lot of money comes in through big blue states, why are they on the firing line unless they bend to his will?
The only solution is to elect Kamala Harris. At least red states can comfortably rely on the delivery of federal dollars, especially poorer states like Mississippi or Idaho, Utah, Wyoming…
Love the article, just that I wouldn’t call tRump and “strong man”, to me he is incredibly weak. He is one of the weakest men in this country.
Thank you! I meant strongman as in dictator as you likely know. Thx for the note, always appreciated.
An evil psychopath given power ONCE AGAIN by a stupid voting public is capable of anything. Too bad Ted Bundy was executed instead of being given a job as head of the sororities in America. What a missed opportunity America. Hey WHEN DOES THE NEW APPLE PHONE COME OUT? Let’s move on to tic toc and find out! Finally something important!!!
Well, California could always just NOT send any money to the Feds. I mean, what could Trump do? Sue the state?
D—ump is a vindictive prick. He’s showing just how much of a lost ‘loomer’ of a cause he’s become.
He’s a ’loomer’ (think looser) that’s lost it, in more ways than one.
California already pipes water from the north to the south via an aqueduct.
I agree with Joseph – let’s just keep all that $$ here in the state. We’re subsidizing red states that aren’t educated enough to even know they’re getting funded by a state they love to trash.
Thx for the comment. I know that California already takes water south from the north, but I think they mean going further up the valley than before and adding some pipe going south. They’re clearly wanting to transport water and it will get done some way bc Southern Cal does need it – – There is clearly a piece of the bill that Newsom opposes as governor. Thx for the comment.
Southern Cal doesn’t need it, Big Ag wants it. And Newsome is in their pocket, so anyone or thing depending on that water in Northern Cal can suck an egg. I’m referring to small farmers, 1st Nation people, and endangered species.
Thx for the comment. I know that California already takes water south from the north, but I think they mean going further up the valley than before and adding some pipe going south. They’re clearly wanting to transport water and it will get done some way bc Southern Cal does need it – – There is clearly a piece of the bill that Newsom opposes as governor. Thx for the comment.
I have a problem with viewpoints that are so rigid there is no working out a reasonable compromise. There shouldn’t be only red states are good or only blue states are good. This is the United States, and no matter the color in your sunglasses, everyone needs help now and then. But Trump and his threats and good God almighty Project 2025 is frightening. If he gets back into office, which I ferociously hope does not happen, the US goes away and it is a dictatorship from then on, and we are screwed. As a female I am even more screwed. I do appreciate learning things, which I have done with every column I’ve read. I may not like it, but it opens up my perspective and that is a precious thing. Please, please, please have Kamala win. I hope this makes sense as it’s 1:30 in the morning here.
It makes sense. But the only way for the United States to unite again is for the orange menace and the maga movement to disappear. And then it will take time. A lot of time. That man caused such a rift in this country. But if he wins in November, our country, our democracy, is over. If he loses, he will start campaigning immediately. If he goes to jail, that might finally quiet him and also make his followers eventually forget about him. Let us hope and pray he loses. It will be a start…