As wildfires rage in Southern California, conservative politicians go on the attack
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AS WILDFIRES RAGE IN LOS ANGELES, POLITICIANS SEE OPPORTUNITY ON THE HORIZON
California’s wildfires are nothing short of a horrific disaster, costing lives and destroying thousands of structures. But for some politicians, there may be a glint of silver lining in those dark smoke clouds — an opportunity to reach out to frustrated voters with a message of change.
The wildfires have provided California Republicans with a rallying cry, as they attack their Democratic colleagues for focusing on preparing the state for the incoming Donald Trump presidential administration instead of addressing wildfires and the insurance crisis.
Lawmakers should be focused on fireproofing the state, not Trump-proofing it, as repeated by several legislative Republicans recently.
Not one to miss the moment, conservative pundit Steve Hilton, widely tipped to be considering a GOP bid for the state’s top job in 2026, on Monday released what looks suspiciously like a campaign white paper on how California should respond to the wildfires devastating not just Los Angeles, but the entire state.
The paper, titled “Rescue, Reform, Rebuild: Practical Ideas for Emerging from LA’s Wildfire Disaster,” was posted on the website for Hilton’s nonpartisan policy organization Golden Together.
Hilton discussed the paper in a Los Angeles press conference Monday, along with a number of public figures, including newly minted Republican and former State Sen. Gloria Romero and Pastor Jack Hibbs of the evangelical church Calvary Chapel, Chino Hills.
Hilton said that he has been speaking with current and former politicians on both the left (including Rep. Ro Khanna, D-San Jose) and right (including former Gov. Pete Wilson; Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Roseville; and Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher, R-Yuba City) “collecting ideas” that are both specific and practical to respond to the crises affecting California.
While Hilton has been one of the biggest critics of the Democratic establishment in California, the devastating wildfires affecting the Greater Los Angeles area have provided him an opportunity to claim an even more prominent platform.
He wasn’t shy about using that platform Monday to criticize Gov. Gavin Newsom, the Democrat who has been governor since 2019 and who has been overseeing the state’s response to the current wildfires.
“We’ve heard from the governor that as far as he’s concerned, we can’t start rebuilding for a year. That is not good enough. We need to do better, we need urgency and ambition, we need to make it happen,” Hilton said in prepared remarks.
He also echoed Trump about the state of California water.
“We have it here in California. We have all the water that we need. It is in the Sierra foothills, it is in the Sierras, we have it in rain and snow, we have plenty of water. But we don’t capture it, we don’t store it, we don’t get it to where it’s needed,” Hilton said.
Newsom’s office said both of Hilton’s claims are “simply false.”
In the last several days, Newsom has worked to remove barriers to rebuilding, including issuing an executive order allowing wildfire victims to rebuild without needing to meet California Environmental Quality Act and California Coastal Act permitting requirements.
CALIFORNIA SENATE DELEGATION GETS COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Via David Lightman...
California’s U.S. senators will be prominent at the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, as both will be members in this Congress.
But neither Sen. Alex Padilla or Adam Schiff, both Democrats, are on the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee or the budget-writing Senate Appropriations Committee. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who died in September 2023, was a senior appropriations member.
Judiciary handles some of the country’s most sensitive legal issues. It plans two days of hearings this week to consider the nomination of former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general.
It holds hearings on judicial nominees and senior law enforcement nominees. It also deals with civil liberties issues, constitutional questions and other matters.
Environment and Public Works is an important committee for California. It deals with issues involving water resources, infrastructure, public works, environment and more.
Padilla will also serve on the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee, Rules Committee and Budget Committee. Schiff joins the Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry and the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committees.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I have no announcement to make on any other office. I love being AG. … I am entirely focused on being the best AG I can be right now.”
- Attorney General Rob Bonta, when asked by Sacramento Press Club President Alexei Koseff whether he has made a decision about running for governor in 2026. h/t to Nicole Nixon for the quote.
Best of The Bee:
Lawmakers double ‘Trump-proof’ effort to $50 million, including legal aid for Californians, via Lia Russell and Nicole Nixon.
Voters approved a new crime law in California. Sacramento-area prosecutors quick to use it, via Stephen Hobbs.
Newsom waives environmental rules to help LA fire victims rebuild ‘faster and stronger,’ via Nicole Nixon.
Trump will test immigrant protections in Sacramento — one of first sanctuary cities in US, via Mathew Miranda.
New law bans agriculture burning in California. There’s an alternative that helps air quality, via Robert Rodriguez.
Gavin Newsom budgets $30 million to help California newsrooms. Will Google do its part? Via Andrew Sheeler.
Trump supporters rally at California Capitol, vow fight is not over despite 2024 win, via Ishani Desai.
This story was originally published January 14, 2025 at 4:55 AM with the headline "As wildfires rage in Southern California, conservative politicians go on the attack."