Gavin Newsom visited DC to lobby for wildfire aid — but left without a deal in place
Good morning and welcome to the Friday edition of the A.M. Alert!
THE BEE’S DAVID LIGHTMAN OFFERS INSIGHT ON NEWSOM’S DC VISIT
This week, Gov. Gavin Newsom headed to Washington, D.C., to persuade federal officials to approve federal disaster aid after wildfires devastated Los Angeles last month.
Newsom has warmed to President Donald Trump in recent weeks, whom he praised for his collaboration with California during previous disasters. It hasn’t always been that conciliatory. Trump has referred to the governor in the past as “Newscum,” and called on him to resign immediately after the Los Angeles wildfires.
Ultimately, the governor left the nation’s capital Thursday afternoon without a concrete deal in place as Republicans slammed his leadership and blamed the fires on overregulation.
The Bee’s congressional correspondent David Lightman spoke to Newsom twice Wednesday as the governor met with Trump and Congress members from both parties. The Bee’s governor reporter Lia Russell asked him a few questions about their interactions and what may be on the horizon for California and the White House:
How did Newsom seem when you first met him?
He was friendly. I met him on the ground floor of the Capitol on the Senate side. He was walking through one of the tunnels, on his way to meet Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA). He had an entourage with him, and he was very chatty and willing to talk.
What did he say?
He was trying very hard to be statesmanlike and bipartisan. He wouldn’t criticize Republicans and he had kind words for Trump and his performance whenever there’s been a disaster. He’s doing what governors, mayors, and executives do in times of crisis. It’s hardly unusual for executives and managers to put politics aside and do what’s best for the people they represent.
When is California likely to see some sort of disaster aid, given that Congress has to pass a spending plan by March 14?
There are a lot of moving parts. The government runs out of money by then if they don’t reach a deal, and the debt limit has already been reached. Then you have the big tax, border and defense package bill, which as we speak, Trump and Republicans are meeting about.
We don’t know (where disaster aid fits in). Historically, things like this go into an emergency spending bill that passes despite all of this. The fact they’re discussing attaching conditions to any aid is not unusual. They will likely then discuss how to pay for it. It’s a complicated maze, but in the end, they’ll take this up and it won’t be in the next year. It’ll likely be in a number of weeks, is my estimate.
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