Republican senator says California ‘doesn’t deserve funding’ after devastating wildfires

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville said that California “doesn’t deserve” any funding for the devastating wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles. The Alabama senator, a staunch Donald Trump ally, said he didn’t object to sending the state “some money,” but not unless state leaders “change their ways.” Tuberville joins a growing number of Republicans who have hit out at California’s political leaders for the fires, blaming them partly on “woke policies.” The cause of the fires, which have so far claimed 25 lives, has not yet been determined. The senator was asked by host Chris Salcedo on right-wing network Newsmax on Monday: “Why should other states be bailing out California for choosing the wrong people to run their state?” “We shouldn’t be,” Tuberville responded, before calling the state’s lawmakers “imbeciles.” open image in gallery Senator Tommy Tuberville said California ‘doesn’t deserve’ funding for the wildfires unless its leaders ‘change their ways’ “They got 40 million people in that state and they vote in these imbeciles in office, and they continue to do it,” he said. open image in gallery Republicans have hit out at California’s political leaders for the fires, blaming them partly on ‘woke policies’ “I think we’re going to have a serious conversation about that,” Johnson told reporters.