California Disaster Aid Sparks Political Debate Over Policy Changes

CINCINNATI, Ohio – U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, has called for California lawmakers to implement policy changes in exchange for federal disaster aid, sparking a heated debate over disaster relief and state accountability. Davidson, who represents Ohio’s 8th Congressional District, criticized California’s handling of wildfires during a Friday appearance on Fox News, arguing that state policies have exacerbated the crisis.

“People are losing their home insurance for fire because of policies that the state government is doing,” Davidson said. “If they (California lawmakers) want the money, then there should be consequences where they have to change their policies.”

California has faced increasing challenges with wildfires, prompting state officials to take steps to address the issue. Last month, the California Department of Insurance announced new measures requiring insurers to expand coverage in high-risk areas. The state also allowed insurance companies to pass reinsurance costs to customers, a move aimed at encouraging insurers to take on new clients in fire-prone regions.

Davidson also criticized California’s management of water and forests, citing a water reservoir in Pacific Palisades, a Los Angeles community, that was out of commission when fires first struck. “California wants the money without changing the policies that are making the problem bad or worse, and I don’t see how Republicans could possibly support that,” he said.

In contrast, Davidson praised Florida‘s hurricane preparedness, noting that the state has received more FEMA direct relief funds than any other since 2015, according to data from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “Florida is prone to hurricanes, so they do lots of things to mitigate the risk of hurricanes. California is prone to fires, and they do things that make the fires worse instead of responding to make them more resilient,” he said.

Democrats, however, have pointed to climate change as the primary driver of the wildfires’ devastation. “The fires have been devastating for folks – and whether it’s Florida, North Carolina, or California, we all help when Americans are in trouble,” said Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, in a statement to The Enquirer.

Davidson’s comments drew backlash on social media over the weekend, with critics arguing that attaching conditions to federal aid would harm disaster victims. The congressman responded on X, formerly Twitter, stating, “I support disaster aid for people in California impacted by the fires, and I support addressing the policy failures that exacerbated the crisis.”

Davidson, who has represented Ohio’s 8th Congressional District since 2016, did not respond to The Enquirer’s request for comment Monday. His district includes the western suburbs of Cincinnati, as well as Butler, Preble, and Darke counties.