'Is it helpful?' CNN host challenges GOP rep on setting 'bad precedent' with CA aid conditions
Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA) on Monday night stood by Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-LA) suggestion that Congress will assist California amid ongoing raging fires — with conditions.
Speaking with the Iowa lawmaker, CNN's Kaitlan Collins said, "I think what the concern that we've heard from Democrats who say is you're creating a really bad precedent here because aid typically doesn't have conditions on it. I mean, North Carolina didn't have conditions when we saw how devastating that was for people who live there who say this is a slippery slope."
Collins then pointed out, "You could be in a disaster prone state like Louisiana, where Mike Johnson is from, or like Florida or even Iowa, and something happens. And then how would you feel if Democrats are saying, well, actually, we don't like how your republican governor is handling that, so we're going to put conditions on."
READ MORE: 'Help people instead of score political points': Trump feud with Newsom hits boiling point
The GOP congressman replied, "And Kaitlin, I gently push back on that and say that there have been conditions placed on aid before, particularly when it comes to emergency aid. Look, we've got a $36 trillion national debt, and the inability for the insurance commissioners in California to be able to keep insurance companies in the state are a real management issue. It's a challenge. Equally important, if we're going to put billions of dollars into helping families recover, I want to make sure they're not going to face the exact same crisis two years from now, because California has failed to take action on things they should have been taking action on decades ago."
Collins then added, "Okay, but so, for example, if Mike Johnson moves ahead with this idea that's been floating around of tying the debt ceiling to to wildfire aid, could you argue that's anything but political?"
Nunn said, "Well, you know, we haven't even gotten to this point yet, so I won't even speculate on what the future of the debt ceiling is going to look like."
"But would you support that?" the CNN host asked again.
READ MORE: 'New level of shamelessness': Johnson slammed over response on California aid
"I think I want to support getting assistance on the ground right now. look again, colonel, in the air national guard and the military beforehand. There's needs that can be met right now. We should be focused on that. What we don't need is more of, tragically, like, what Governor Newsom has already done is to say, 'hHy, send me your aid, but make sure it goes through my ActBlue account so that i can collect your information and use it in my upcoming election.' That's the real politicalization that's going on right now in California.
Collins then asked, "Is it helpful when Trump attacks a sitting governor as these fires are still raging in California?"
"I think he's talking about already going out there and seeing this," Nunn replied. "What I want to see is that both sides depoliticize, and it starts with the governor. He's the commander on the ground. He needs to take responsibility for this.
Watch the video below or at this link.
READ MORE: Wildfire relief tied to debt ceiling? Trump, GOP spark outrage after Mar-a-Lago meeting
- YouTubewww.youtube.com
