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California Should Not Count On FEMA – The Very Long History Of How The Federal Government Has Let California Down During Disasters Over The Last 30 Years.

We have received questions from the media about – What would California do about FEMA disaster assistance, if it was independent from America. Our response was the same as it had been for years: it is not a good idea to good idea to count on FEMA or the Federal government in general to bail California out of any hardship.

We have pulled a section from the GOLDEN GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENCE, which is our main policy book, that provides answers on how an independent California nation would be able to function without federal assistance. The document was written and developed years ago, but the answers are still valid.

Below is a review of the history of Federal assistance to California over the last 30 years. After that section, we discuss how current Federal/ FEMA performance has provided zero evidence to support changing our initial conclusion.

THESE ARE THE FACTS:
• California has never received proper or any significant disaster assistance funding – for every single disaster since the 1990s or over the last 30 years.
• This includes earthquakes, fires, and economic recessions, or preventing terrorist attacks. There is no type of disaster that the federal government is able of handling for California because our state is so big.
• Democratic Presidents Clinton and Obama both denied California financial assistance during a recession although we have been a donor state for decades. Republican Presidents Bush and Trump allowed our forests to burn down.
• President Bush denied adequate funding to California to prevent terrorism 5 years after 911, even though California was identified as one of the most vulnerable spots to attack.
• At the same time while Obama denied financial assistance to California he bailed out the State of Michigan with Federal money, although California was more important to the overall national economy.

SUGGESTED POLICY:
• Count on neither political party to help CA in any type of disaster.
• Use the power of the CA economy to buy insurance on global market.

DISCUSSION:

The history of disaster assistance from the federal government to California is rife with irony and frustration, characterized by a consistent pattern of neglect and inadequacy. Despite being a donor state, contributing more to the federal system than it receives, California has repeatedly been denied fair and timely assistance in times of crisis.

From the tenure of Governor Wilson to Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama, the plight of California in securing disaster aid has remained a contentious issue. Even under Democratic administrations, which one might expect to be more sympathetic, California has found itself lacking in crucial support.

The denial of disaster assistance during times of recession, such as under the presidencies of Clinton and Obama, highlights a systemic failure to recognize California’s contributions to the federal system and its corresponding needs. This disregard for California’s economic and social welfare perpetuates the state’s status as a donor state, while simultaneously depriving it of essential aid in times of hardship.

Moreover, the allocation of funding for disaster preparedness and response has often been skewed against California’s interests. Despite being identified as the most vulnerable to a second terrorist attack after 9/11, the state received inadequate funding for critical security measures, such as radiation detectors for its major seaports. This failure to prioritize California’s security needs underscores the systemic flaws in how federal funding is distributed, leaving the state exposed and vulnerable.

WHAT ABOUT RIGHT NOW:

QUESTION: What would California do if it were independent when a disaster, (like the Wildfires raging right now) were to happen? Wouldn’t we be cut off from Federal assistance?

ANSWER: Who cares. The amount of damage from the current wildfires is estimate at around $10 Billion dollars to rebuild. However, much of the money will come from private insurance companies, and not FEMA or federal assistance. So the price tag for Federal assistance is less than $10 Billion.
Additionally, the cost of rebuilding after these current wildfires is based on the real estate price of the homes, not the actual cost to construct the home. The prices of these homes is elevated way beyond the actual value of the housing stock itself because of its location on the coast. So the cost to rebuild these homes is actually much less than $10 Billion.

However, assuming it does cost $10 Billion to rebuild, this is a fraction of what California loses every year being a donor state and subsidizing 2/3rds of American states. If California were independent it could afford a $10 Billion dollar price tag and more, each year. If California saved these additional funds it would have a $50 Billion reserve (that could collect interest) within essentially 1 governor’s term.

REFERENCES: California is a donor state

GOP says lower-tax states are subsidizing California. It’s the other way around by Jim Puzzanghera, LA Times, Oct 28 2017
https://www.businessinsider.com/federal-taxes-federal-services-difference-by-state-2019-1

California has been a donor state since 1987,

11 states pay more in federal taxes than they get back — here’s how every state fares by Hillary Hoffower, Business Insider, Jan 14, 2019,
https://www.businessinsider.com/federal-taxes-federal-services-difference-by-state-2019-1

We described the difference as the balance of payments. For example, California’s balance of payments is -$13.7 billion. This means California residents get less in return than they pay for.”

Does California give more than it gets from Washington D.C.? by Chris Nichols, Politifact, Feb 14, 2017
https://www.politifact.com/article/2017/feb/14/does-california-give-more-it-gets-dc/

“Without a doubt. California is a donor state to the federal Treasury,” California’s new Democratic Attorney General Xavier Becerra told NPR in January. “We always, as taxpayers in the state of California, pay more in taxes than we get back to our state.

THE OTHER POINT IS – THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT/ FEMA SHOULD NOT BEEN SEEN AS RELIABLE FOR DISASTER ASSITANCE:

Below are references showing that every President going back over 20 years has been horrible at delivering results after a disaster. Bush, and Biden were incompetent. Obama may have said the right things, but many of the disasters that he said he “had their back” on, were never actually fixed. Finally, Trump raises the risk of inept Federal assistance to new levels by denying even attempting to help in a disaster, while the disaster is going on. Given the fact that this President has been elected twice, the specter of being boldly denied any disaster assistance is a threat that now has to be taken seriously. Either way, the Federal government has a horrible track record of building back after a disaster that goes back over two decades.

REFERENCES: Federal assistance from 2000 to 2024

BIDEN

Asheville residents awaiting federal relief rely on mutual aid to get by
October 5, 20247:59 AM ET
Heard on Weekend Edition Saturday
By Laura Hackett, Scott Simon
https://www.npr.org/2024/10/05/nx-s1-5140102/asheville-residents-awaiting-federal-relief-rely-on-mutual-aid-to-get-by
For over a week now, many residents in Asheville have been without running water, cell service and power. How are they coping?

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, questions about government response emerge
Sept. 30, 2024, 6:53 PM PDT
By Melissa Chan, Lewis Kamb, Natalie Obregon, George Solis, Laura Strickler and Lucas Thompson
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/wake-hurricane-helene-questions-emerge-government-warnings-response-rcna173347
In western North Carolina, where more than 40 people have died, some residents say the government was unprepared for the storm.
But some residents have criticized what they view as a lack of preparation for the catastrophic storm.

How FEMA’s Disaster Funding Compares to Ukraine Aid
Published Oct 04, 2024 at 7:48 PM EDT By Anna Skinner
https://www.newsweek.com/how-fema-disaster-funding-compares-ukraine-aid-1964240
“Congress responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with funding of about $176 billion for U.S. agencies to provide arms to Ukraine, aid civilians, impose sanctions, and more,” the website said.
President Joe Biden recently announced an additional $2.4 billion assistance package for Ukraine on September 26.
In comparison, in 2022, Congress appropriated $18.8 billion in annual funding for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, which is the primary funding for domestic disaster relief programs and has appropriated roughly $20 billion each year thereafter.

Mayorkas warns FEMA doesn’t have enough funding to last through hurricane season
The agency is being stretched as it works with states to assess damage from Hurricane Helene and delivers meals, water, generators and other critical supplies.
KEVIN FREKING, AP / Colleen Long, Associated Press | Posted on October 4, 2024, 10:15 AM
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/energy-environment/2024/10/04/502023/mayorkas-warns-fema-doesnt-have-enough-funding-to-last-through-hurricane-season/

Fema doesn’t have funding through hurricane season, warns Mayorkas
US homeland security’s comments come as over 150,000 households affected by Helene register for assistance
Sam Levine in New York Fri 4 Oct 2024 10.33 EDT
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/04/fema-funding-hurricane-season

Mayorkas Warns FEMA Doesn’t Have Enough Funding to Last Through Hurricane Season
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says the agency tasked with helping communities recover from Hurricane Helene and other natural disasters does not have enough money to make it through the hurricane season
By Associated Press Oct. 2, 2024
https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2024-10-02/mayorkas-warns-fema-doesnt-have-enough-funding-to-last-through-hurricane-season

Biden visited Maui after devastating wildfires. He was met with grief over relief efforts.
Biden’s experience with personal loss has burnished his reputation as empathizer-in-chief. But he’s faced criticism for his response to Hawaii’s wildfire relief efforts
Maureen Groppe and Francesca Chambers USA TODAY 8/21/2023
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/08/21/biden-visits-maui-wildfires-relief-efforts/70641284007/

Biden slammed for offering ‘insulting’ $700 payments to Maui wildfire victims
Emergency payments to Maui wildfire victims part of a ‘whole-of-government response effort’, White House says Bevan Hurley
Wednesday 16 August 2023, The Independent
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/biden-response-to-maui-fires-b2393929.html

East Palestine residents wonder why Biden didn’t visit site of toxic train derailment sooner
Pittsburgh By Meghan Schiller
February 16, 2024 / 6:18 PM EST / CBS Pittsburgh
https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/east-palestine-president-joe-biden-visit-more-help/

‘People in this town needed him,’ President Biden’s visit is too late, says East Palestine community
President Biden is making his first visit to East Palestine a year after the toxic Norfolk Southern train derailment.
By: Bryn Caswell Posted 3:00 AM, Feb 16, 2024 and last updated 3:16 AM, Feb 16, 2024
https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/we-follow-through/people-in-this-town-needed-him-president-bidens-visit-is-too-late-says-east-palestine-community

Biden hit with backlash for comparing Maui wildfires to almost losing his Corvette in a small house fire
The president and first lady visited Maui on Monday to meet with first responders, local officials and residents
Ariana Baio Tuesday 22 August 2023
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/biden-visit-maui-wildfires-kitchen-fire-b2397554.html

Biden to visit Maui wildfire aftermath amid criticism, pledges support ‘as long as it takes’
His remarks followed several days of public silence on the disaster.
By Ben Gittleson August 15, 2023
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-visit-maui-wildfire-aftermath-pledges-support-long/story?id=102285674

TRUMP


Trump revives threats to withhold disaster aid for political foes
By Scott Waldman | 01/09/2025
https://www.eenews.net/articles/trump-revives-threats-to-withhold-disaster-aid-for-political-foes/
The deadly Los Angeles area wildfires were turned into a political conflagration on Wednesday as President-elect Donald Trump rekindled past threats to withhold disaster aid to Democratic opponents in California.
In his first term, Trump did delay disaster aid to California and other states based on political spats with their leaders. In one case, as POLITICO’s E&E News first reported, White House aides changed Trump’s mind when he was refusing to sign off on aid by showing him voter registration maps to demonstrate that many Republicans lived in Orange County, which had burned during wildfires in 2018.
In September, Trump said he would continue to use federal disaster aid as a political cudgel.

‘Vengeful’ Trump withheld disaster aid and will do so again, ex-officials warn
This article is more than 2 months old
Former administration officials say Trump deliberately denied funds to states he deemed politically hostile
Oliver Milman in New York Sun 13 Oct 2024
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/13/trump-disaster-funding-warning

Trump threatens to cut off federal funding for California wildfire relief
Published Wed, Jan 9 2019 Jeff Daniels CNBC
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/09/trump-threatens-to-cut-off-federal-funding-for-california-wildfire-relief.html

OBAMA

The Federal Government’s Failure to Respond to the “Flint Water Crisis”
February 2, 2021 By: Amanda Williamson, University of Arkansas
https://ualr.edu/socialchange/2021/02/02/the-federal-governments-failure-to-respond-to-the-flint-water-crisis/
The Obama administration is the first culprit in failing to respond to the “Flint Water Crisis” at the federal government level. The inaction or lack of effective action by the Obama administration was particularly alarming because that administration pushed for progress within African American communities. The city of Flint has a population of 95, 538 people. Approximately 54 percent of that population is African American.

Flint’s Dr. Mona: Why didn’t Obama bring more resources to fix problem?
Rochelle Riley Detroit Free Press ColumnistMay 6 2016
https://www.freep.com/story/news/columnists/rochelle-riley/2016/05/06/dr-mona-flint-water-obama/84031520/

‘Flint is not fixed’: Activists demand change years after water crisis started
By Brandon Hudson and FOX 2 Staff Published February 15, 2023
https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/flint-is-not-fixed-activists-demand-change-years-after-water-crisis

I’ve Got Your Back,’ Obama Tells Flint Residents
By Michael D. Shear and Julie Bosman May 4, 2016 New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/05/us/flint-water-lead-obama.html

Michael Moore calls Barack Obama drinking Flint ‘disappointing’
Brian Manzullo Detroit Free Press May 4 2016
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/05/04/flint-water-crisis-michael-moore-barack-obama/83940370/

Sandy victims, still displaced 10 years later, now could face foreclosure
The superstorm hit nearly a decade ago and some of the victims who have still not been able to get back in their homes now face losing them altogether as a crucial deadline passed this week.
By Adriana Navarro, AccuWeather staff writer Published Jul 1, 2022
https://www.accuweather.com/en/hurricane/sandy-victims-still-displaced-10-years-later-now-could-face-foreclosure/1208770#google_vignette

Hurricane Sandy, five years later: ‘No one was ready for what happened after’
This article is more than 7 years old
Survivors of the 2012 storm remain haunted. As hurricanes continue to batter the US, many say plans to mitigate climate change have not gone far enough: ‘People need to open their eyes’
By Oliver Milman in New York Sat 28 Oct 2017
A program called Build It Back was meant to have restored damaged New York City homes – such as the Willis’s – by the end of 2016, but one in five eligible people still haven’t had their dwellings repaired.
The city’s public housing is in a particularly parlous stasis – of the 33 apartment towers that required repair work on crippled heating and lighting systems, only one property has completed work. Protestors will march on Sandy’s fifth anniversary to highlight those still struggling with the storm’s aftermath.

BUSH

The Undoing of George W. Bush
Hurricane Katrina badly damaged the former president’s reputation. And it still hasn’t recovered.
By Kenneth T. Walsh Contributor Aug. 28, 2015, at 12:01 a.
https://www.usnews.com/news/the-report/articles/2015/08/28/hurricane-katrina-was-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-george-w-bush
A Washington Post-ABC News survey found that the bungled response to Katrina dragged down Bush’s job approval rating in mid-September 2005

George W. Bush never recovered politically from Katrina
Bruce Alpert, NOLA.com | Times-Picayune Aug 28, 2015
https://www.nola.com/news/george-w-bush-never-recovered-politically-from-katrina/article_9b0ff883-2078-5662-8e6b-b8296249a161.html
George W. Bush never recovered politically from the perception that the federal government’s failure to respond adequately to Hurricane Katrina extended the misery for tens of thousands of New Orleans area residents.

Criticism of the government response to Hurricane Katrina
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_the_government_response_to_Hurricane_Katrina#:~:text=The%20Federal%20Emergency%20Management%20Agency%20was%20heavily%20criticized%20in%20the,response%2C%20%22I%20was%20shocked.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency was heavily criticized in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, primarily for its slow response and inability to coordinate its efforts with other federal agencies relief organizations. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley (D) said of the slow federal response, “I was shocked.

REFERENCES: California disaster assistance from 1980s to 2010s

UN stand on oil money hit by Deukmejian, a dispute over revenue sharing called threat to negotiations, by Richard C Paddock, LA Times, June 16, 2985
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-06-16-mn-2693-story.html

State and federal governments have been unable to agree on how to split the money. About $1.3 billion has piled up in an escrow account of revenues from California oil. Federal budget officials reportedly want to use as much of it as possible to reduce the deficit.
In April, Deukmejian rejected an offer from the federal government to give the state one-sixth of the fund–about $223 million.

Loma Prieta Earth Quake 1989

Loma Prieta quake four years later: $100 million still needed, Stanford University News Service, 10/19/93
https://web.stanford.edu/dept/news/pr/93/931019Arc3099.html

Waiting 2 years, some 4 years later to get the money to rebuild, buildings not opened. The federal government wanted to fix cracks in the wall, CA wanted to fix the buildings so
they did not crumble in the next earthquake, $100s of millions of dollars held up.

Earthquake Recovery: Staffing and Other Improvements Made Following Loma Prieta
Earthquake by RCED-92-141, Jul 30, 1992. Publicly Released: Aug 14, 1992.
http://www.gao.gov/products/RCED-92-141

CA had to raise taxes to cover itself because of a lack of Federal assistance


EARTHQUAKE – the long road back, Wilson criticized for asking the US to pay quake costs;
Repayment: some Democrats fear the Governors strategy is making the state appear
greedy. Backers praise him for being tough negotiating stance, by Daniel M Wintraub,
LA Times, Jan 28 1994
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-01-28-mn-16352-story.html

“George Deukmejian, endorsed a temporary quarter-cent sales tax after the Loma Prieta
earthquake damaged the San Francisco Bay Area in 1989. The special levy, which raised
$761 million.”

“When flood waters engulfed the Midwest, when hurricanes swamped the East Coast,
Californians were willing to help,” Wilson said Thursday in a televised address to Angelenos.
“Now, Californians need the nation’s help.”

“Wilson also has blamed federal defense cuts for the state’s economic woes and has criticized U.S. environmental officials for trying to restrict water use to protect fish.”

“Republican Assemblywoman Paula Boland, whose Northridge-based district was hammered in the quake, says the federal government has shorted California in other areas and should be pressed to provide the maximum aid in this instance. Boland said the state’s economy is in far worse shape than it was in 1989 and may not be able to withstand another tax increase.”

1992 – financial assistance


In 1992, during the recession then, California again, overwhelmingly voted for the President at that time and had people in political positions in the state from the Presidents of same party. At both times, California was the most hurt state in the nation, and at both times, California received no help from the Federal government.
As Clinton Goes, So Goes the State: Economy: Recession-weary California stands to benefit if the President-elect can deliver on his campaign promises by Patrick Lee, LA Times, Nov 6 1992
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-11-06-fi-1356-story.html

“State to Feel Full Effect of Changes: Economy: Clinton’s proposed tax and spending plans are likely tohurt Californians more than other Americans–but they may help more here too” by Patrick lee, 1993, Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-02-17-fi-124-story.html

The California economy” January 1995, Legislative Analyst’s Office
https://www.lao.ca.gov/1995/010195_calguide/cgep1.html

VAN NUYS: FEMA Draws Criticism for Care of Disabled, by Jeff Schnaufer, LA Times, March 2 1994
http://articles.latimes.com/1994-03-02/local/me-29068_1_van-nuys

Northridge Earth Quake 1994


Santa Monica Freeway repairs, by LA Times, April 12 1994
http://articles.latimes.com/1994-04-12/local/me-44897_1_clinton-myers-busiest-freeway-los-angeles

“It is appalling that Clinton Administration officials are angry that Gov. Pete Wilson has been complaining for more than a year that the federal government is doing too little to assist California.”

Appendix 1-A: Hazard lesson Plans by Community emergency response team, CERT training: instructor guide, page 1-A-3
https://training.fema.gov/hiedu/docs/polpolbasis/political%20and%20policy%20basis%20-%20session%2016%20-%20geosciences%20policy-earthquakes,other%20seismic%20disasters.doc

“Though building inspections were often controversial.”
EARTHQUAKE / THE LONG ROAD BACK: Senate Committee OKs Sales Tax Hike: Revenue: Bill would increase levy by a quarter-cent for 26 months to help fund quake relief efforts. It is opposed by the Wilson Administration. By Carl Ingram, Feb 4, 1994,
http://articles.latimes.com/1994-02-04/news/mn-19152_1_sales-tax-increase

2000 – electricity massacre


When California deregulated its energy market which took effect in 2001, many companies based in Houston, Texas, deliberately raised energy prices to unreasonable levels and created or lied about a limit in production to justify the costs.

Feds reveal 2 Enron firms’ energy scheme: ‘Death Star’ tactic manipulated market” by Christian Berthelsen, Mark Martin, San Francisco Chronicle, 2002
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/feds-reveal-2-enron-firms-energy-scheme-death-2715270.php

At this same time, Texas was the state that the President of the Federal government at that time came from, and Enron and many Houston-based energy companies were known to be close friends and long time massive financial contributors of the current President, for years before he ever became president.
Bush’s Enron Problem” by Frank Pellegrini, 2002, Time Magazine
https://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,192920,00.html

Enron put Bush in White House by Tim Wheeler, People’s Weekly World Newspaper, 2002
https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg11806.html

4 years later, a Federal investigation judged that Enron and other Houston, Texas-based energy companies illegally price-gouged the California economy causing the budget surplus to turn into a deficit within 1 year. It took nearly 3 years for the Federal government to even be willing to look into the case, during which time Californians’ deficit and the destruction to the California economy only dramatically increased. It is perhaps not a coincidence that during this time, the Attorney General for the Federal government was forced to remove himself from investigating Enron because he had received financial contributions from the organization in the past. It was not until 2003, that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission finally concluded that price gouging had in fact happened.
The Western Energy Crisis, the Enron Bankruptcy, and FERC’s Response
https://www.ferc.gov/industries-data/electric/general-information/addressing-2000-2001-western-energy-crisis#:~:text=Western%20Energy%20Crisis%20Settlements&text=FERC%20was%20a%20critical%20player,cause%20orders%2C%20and%20conducted%20hearings.

Enron and Davis” by Charles R Smith, 2003, News max
https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/33559

“In a speech at UCLA on August 19, 2003, Davis apologized for being slow to act during the energy crisis but then forcefully attacked the Houston-based energy suppliers: “I inherited the energy deregulation scheme which put us all at the mercy of the big energy producers. We got no help from the Federal government. In fact, when I was fighting Enron and the other energy companies, these same companies were sitting down with Vice President Cheney to draft a national energy strategy.”

In the end, only Enron, and not the other companies who price gouged California had to pay. Of the money that Enron stole from California through illegal means, it only was required to pay about 1/10th of the amount taken. Of that amount, California is only expecting to see about 1/6th, or around 3% of the total amount taken from the California economy. Additionally, no money will have to go to pay for the interest on the loans California had to take out to cover its debt or for the general pain caused to all of California. Additionally, no penalties or punishment of any kind will happen to anyone in the Federal government for waiting for years to even investigate a decision that almost literally destroyed the entire state’s economy.
Enron Settles State Claim of Price Gouging” by Jonathan Peterson, 2005, Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jul-16-fi-enron16-story.html

Dot com bubble 2000 -Housing crisis 2008


“During the decade from 1995 to 2005, then-Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan over-reacted to several shocks to the economy. When financial turbulence hit in 1997 and 1998—the Asian crisis, the Russian ruble collapse and the failure of Long-Term Capital Management—the Fed increased liquidity and accidentally helped to set off the dot-com bubble. The Fed eased further in 1999 in anticipation of the Y2K computer threat, which of course proved to be a false alarm. When the Fed subsequently tightened credit in 2000 and the dot-com bubble burst, the Fed quickly turned around and lowered interest rates again. The liquidity expansion was greatly amplified following 9/11, when the Fed put interest rates down
to 1 percent and thereby helped to set off the housing bubble, which has now collapsed.”
The Economic Need for Stable Policies, Not a Stimulus: An exaggerated swing toward economic stimulus
will only delay the return of sustainable prosperity By Jeffrey D. Sachs, 2009, Scientific American
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-need-for-stable-policies/

2002-2007 – Terrorist attack help


California did not receive Federal assistance to guard against 911 attack, although ranked as the most likely to have a terrorist attack by the Federal government, California is the most vulnerable place in all of the USA for a terrorist attack because of its many seaports, and airports and international borders. CA has not received adequate Homeland Security funding, despite the fact that it is the most in need, from the Federal government for almost 10 years. Despite repeated attempts to have this issue addressed, it still has been ignored by the Federal government.

National security – which is also a Federal issue, has not been resourced nearly well enough to protect California.

After 911, the director of Homeland security rated California as the most vulnerable to terrorist attacks, because of its many airports and seaports. However, the money that California needed to be protected from this new era of terrorism was never given. The director of Homeland Security said that California did not get the money it needed, and the money was wasted going to other places that were not high-security threats. This went on for 5 years after 911. California was vulnerable to terrorist attacks, at the same time that America made it a priority to fight terrorism. California truckers had to raise a special tax on cargo coming in, to raise money for nuclear radiation detectors to make sure that terrorists could not sneak a nuclear bomb into California. That local trucker tax, is passed on to you,
Senators Feinstein and Cornyn Offer Measure That Would Ensure that More Homeland Security Grants are Based on Risk, 2007, Feinstein Senate website
http://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=6a7996a5-cd60-a046-2019-4b80c74eba50

Homeland Security Cash for Bingo, Limos” by Fred Lucas, 2007, Newsmax
https://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/dhs-money-for-bingo/2007/08/22/id/321482/

What Does Homeland Security Spending Buy? By Veronique de Rugy, 2004, American Enterprise Institute
https://www.aei.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/20050408_wp107.pdf

Bush Administration Strikes Back Against Critics, No Smoking on the Beach? Paula Zahn Now, CNN News, 2004
http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0403/22/pzn.00.html

Homeland security money doesn’t match terror threat By Mimi Hall, 2003, USA TODAY
Politics As Usual Instead of Security by Joe Conason, 2006, New York Observer
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-10-29-security-cover-usat_x.htm

Editorial: an insecure nation: Real Security, or Politics as Usual? 2005, New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/01/opinion/real-security-or-politics-as-usual.html

Local Port Denied Security Funds by Peter Dujardin, 2005, Daily press.com
http://business.itbusinessnet.com/article/Port-of-Hueneme-Hosts-Coastal-Trident-2014-3332250

2006 – it is revealed the FEMA has no plans for what to do with a earthquake in California, even though the Northridge earthquake was only 12 years earlier.


“The letter came in response to post-Katrina criticism from Boxer that FEMA is unprepared for a California disaster, despite having once identified a San Francisco quake as one of the most likely catastrophes facing the country.”
“There is nothing in this letter that gives Senator Boxer any comfort that a catastrophic earthquake in California would be handled any better than Katrina,” Boxer spokeswoman Natalie Ravitz said.”
“While Boxer and Sen. Dianne Feinstein have called for a congressional inquiry into the lack of a federal disaster recovery plan for California, federal officials maintain that local and state agencies are responsible for such strategies.”
FEMA has no quake strategy by Daily Breeze, Feb 16 2006
http://www.dailybreeze.com/general-news/20060216/fema-has-no-quake-strategy

2008 – California overwhelmed by Forest Fires – no assistance from the Federal government, CA had to
rent assistance from other states and use CA tax money to pay


Bush Vows Not to Leave California Stranded As Firefighting Costs Strain Budget” 2008, West Coast 911
https://www.pacificariptide.com/pacifica_riptide/2008/07/bush-vows-not-t.html

California faces its fire season without promised cargo planes” by Veronique de Turenne, 2008, Los Angeles Times

The degree of non-assistance was so bad that the governor stopped campaigning with the President,
Schwarzenegger keeps distance from Bush Campaign by Robert Salladay, Los Angeles Times, May 17 2004
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-may-17-me-busharnold17-story.html

2009- multiple news agencies said that California does not deserve a bailout because it overspent because of its own greed and lack of discipline, a result of the long-term undisciplined super-liberal character of the state.


“Rasmussen: 55% Say Better for California To Go Bankrupt Than Be Bailed Out,” 2010, Rasmussen Reports
http://free-california.blogspot.com/2010/01/rasmussen-55-say-better-for-california.html

&
Will Obama Bail Out California?” by Rich Karlgaard, Forbes.com, 2009
https://www.forbes.com/sites/digitalrules/2009/05/21/will-obama-bail-out-california/?sh=6bc55d36bf06

Why Obama Has to Bail Out California, But Won’t by Ron Elving, NPR, 2009
https://www.npr.org/sections/watchingwashington/2009/06/why_obama_has_to_bail_out_cali.html

Washington declines to help California, at least for now, by Peter Nicholas and Richard Simon, Los Angeles Times, 2009

Washington to California: drop dead by Victoria McGrane, Politico, 6/28/2009
https://www.politico.com/story/2009/06/washington-to-california-drop-dead-024266

California gets no bailout love from White House” by Ed Morrissey, hot air.com, 2009
“California hoped that their dire economic predicament might get enough sympathy from the Obama administration to get a GM-style bailout. Sympathy, the White House has in abundance, but not cash — at least not for self-indulgent states who don’t want to exercise some fiscal discipline. The White House finally drew the line on throwing cash at the insolvent.”

No bailout for California [rejected] by Daily Beast, April 25 2017
https://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2009/06/16/no-bailout-for-california

“It may be hard to imagine Arnold Schwarzenegger on the breadline, but California officials came to the White House “hat in hand”—and were rejected. The Obama administration turned away California’s request for emergency aid, saying that it would only prompt requests from other states in need. Timothy Geithner and other top officials say that California—whose economy is the eighth-largest in the world, bigger than Canada’s or Brazil’s—should work on its budget before applying for federal aid. It may be hard to imagine Arnold Schwarzenegger on the breadline, but California officials came to the White House “hat in hand”—and were rejected. the economy is the eighth-largest in the world, bigger than Canada’s or Brazil’s—should work on its budget before applying for federal aid.”

Who Killed California’s Economy?” by Joel Kotkin, FORBES.com, 2009
https://www.forbes.com/2009/07/06/economy-pension-environment-business-opinions-columnists-california.html?sh=d51a0b23039c

“Burdened by taxes and ever-growing regulation, the state is routinely rated by executives as having among the worst business climates in the nation. The problem could be demographic.“

The state argued that it too, was “too big to fail” and should be bailed out like the national banking businesses and the national automotive companies. The federal government declined to give any financial aid to California at all. The question is for Californians why did the automotive industry receive a bailout, out of fear that it would hurt the US economy, if it was allowed to collapse, yet California wasn’t, when the automotive industry supplies 4.7% of US jobs and California provides nearly 3 times that amount at 13% of the national economy in the year of the recession.”
How Many Jobs Depend on the Big Three? by Catherine Rampell, New York Times, 2008

The Federal government said that it wasn’t providing bailouts to states, yet all three of the major automotive businesses that received bailouts were located only in the state of Michigan, which effectively received a massive state economic surplus.
President Obama Hails Auto Industry Recovery in Michigan by Karen Travers, Matt Jaffe, Thomas Giusto, ABC News, July 29 2010
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-obama-herald-government-bailout-saving-american-auto/story?id=11280776

Furthermore, when the auto giants were receiving their stimulus, the area of the country that Michigan was in, was already on its way out of the recession and showing significant signs of recovery when California was showing no signs.
Pending Home Sales Up In A Sign Of Recovery by Armen Hareyan, Huliq, 2009
Survey shows sluggish Midwest, Plains economy by seeking alpha, 2011
https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/survey-shows-sluggish-midwest-plains-economy/

The federal government was warned that letting California fall could stall economic recovery for the entire nation, so bailing out California was good for America.
Can the U.S. Afford to Let California Fail? By Kevin O’Leary, TIME, June 19 2009
https://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1904936,00.html

And that letting government jobs close is no way to get out of a recession in general.
Don’t Freeze Federal Pay. Cut It. Improving Obama’s wishy-washy plan to hurt some workers without helping others By Annie Lowrey, 2010, Slate.com
https://slate.com/business/2010/11/improving-obama-s-wishy-washy-plan-to-hurt-some-workers-without-helping-others.html

Furthermore, California only asked for a bailout 1/8th the size of the amount given to the automotive industries, although the only supply 1/3 of the jobs of California’s economy, and was refused the bailout
in 2008.
California May Need $7 Billion Bailout by James Joyner, outside the beltway, 2008
https://www.outsidethebeltway.com/california_may_need_7_billion_bailout/

At this time California was the worst-hit state in the nation for the recession and desperately needed help. No help came. In 2012, 4 years later, California was still the worst-hit state in all 50 for the recession and America was still in an economic recession that did not improve as fast as the Federal government had hoped. 7 of10 worst hit cities in all of America were in California alone.
10 worst cities for finding a job” by Danielle Kurtzleben, US news and world report, 1/20/2012
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-worst-cities-finding-job-222659548.html

California was not given a bailout because the Federal government hypocritically said it was not bailing out states, and because it was only bailing out industries too large to fail. All despite the fact that California was not one of the average level of economically hurt states, but the most hurt state in the union.

2016 – Forest Fire destroys entire community in CA
State, and federal representatives criticize federal aid denial by Theo Douglas, Bakersfield.com, July 23 2016
http://www.bakersfield.com/news/state-federal-representatives-criticize-federal-aid-denial/article_0fee801c-2bea-5a98-8927-cbdae2dd49c1.html

Federal government denies assistance – 283 Families left homeless


FEMA denies assistance to Erskine Fire victims by Bakersfield now, July 22nd 2016
http://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/fema-denies-assistance-to-erskine-fire-victims

Special note:
1990 RECESSION


Federal banks set monetary policy to help the majority of the country – which was the exact opposite of the monetary policy that California needs. This situation has been known to the Federal government since FDR was president. While drafting new banking legislation, FDR commissioned a study on how to strengthen the dollar – the results were interesting. FDR’s economists suggested that a separate west coast monetary region be created with a separate West Coast dollar. The reason these economists suggested this in 1930 was to prevent the exact situation that California faced in 1990 and 2000.
What caused the 1990-1991 recession by Carl Walsh, SF Federal Reserve
https://www.frbsf.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/93-2_34-48.pdf

Recession and Restructuring in the California Economy, 1990-1995” by James Gerber, Frontera Norte, Vol 7, num 14, 1995
https://fronteranorte.colef.mx/index.php/fronteranorte/article/download/1494/937/5699

2000 RECESSION


“During the decade from 1995 to 2005, then-Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan over-reacted to several shocks to the economy. When financial turbulence hit in 1997 and 1998—the Asian crisis, the Russian ruble collapse and the failure of Long-Term Capital Management—the Fed increased liquidity and accidentally helped to set off the dot-com bubble. The Fed eased further in 1999 in anticipation of the Y2K computer threat, which of course proved to be a false alarm. When the Fed subsequently tightened credit in 2000 and the dot-com bubble burst, the Fed quickly turned around and lowered interest rates again. The liquidity expansion was greatly amplified following 9/11, when the Fed put interest rates down
to 1 percent and thereby helped to set off the housing bubble, which has now collapsed.”
The Economic Need for Stable Policies, not a Stimulus: An exaggerated swing toward economic stimulus will only delay the return of sustainable prosperity” By Jeffrey D. Sachs, 2009, Scientific American
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-need-for-stable-policies/

Diverted resources


“As you know, Governor Schwarzenegger has had to ask other states for help because so many of California’s National Guard, who provide critical support to the citizens while you are fighting the fires, were deployed to Iraq. In a Dodd Administration, never again will our houses be on fire because our troops are taking fire in Iraq. Never again will our first responders be left without the support they need because our President failed to do what it took to keep our communities safe.
Bill Richardson and Chris Dodd: National Guard Needed Here to Fight Disasters, Not in Iraq By Jeralyn, Talk left, Oct 24, 2007
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2007/10/24/172524/34/elections2008/Bill-Richardson-and-Chris-Dodd-National-Guard-Needed-Here-to-Fight-Disasters-Not-in-Iraq

“The 2008 California Wildfire Season was one of the most devastating since the turn of the 21st century. While only 4,108 fires occurred, less than half as many as in 2009, the total area burned far exceeded that of previous years.[1] Throughout the year 1,375,781 acres (5,567.59 km2) of land was burned.
By July 5, 2008, 328 wildfires were burning, and those fires were only 81% contained.[3]”
California wildfires have scorched 527,000 acres, by Nadja Brandt, and Nancy Moran, Bloomberg, July 7 2007
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_California_wildfires

For the first time since 1977, the military helped with ground-based firefighting, “when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger dispatched 400 California National Guard troops, including Chief Medical Officer Susan Pangelinan, to manage fire lines.[4]”
Military joining fire battles up, down California, b y NBC News, Feb 7 2008
https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna25494278

He said the number of fires had stretched the state’s fire-fighting resources thin. “One never has resources for 1,700 fires. Who has the resources for that?” Schwarzenegger said, adding “Something is happening, clearly. There’s more need for resources than ever before… it’s fire season all year round.”[5]
Critical day for growing Goleta fire: big sure blaze only 5% contained by LA Times, Sept 30 2011
C:\Users\S116057\Documents\Critical day for growing Goleta fire: big sure blaze only 5% contained by LA Times

Guard goes from Afghanistan to California fires, Cleveland.com, July 11 2008
http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2008/07/guard_goes_from_afghanistan_to.html

Lots of hot buttons are burning By Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, October 28, 2007
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/fires-22032-america-left.html

“Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., got blasted by conservative bloggers and a pro-military group called Move America Forward for her comments blaming President Bush for the fire. Move America Forward founder Howard Kaloogian said, in a statement, “Shame on Barbara Boxer for trying to take a political shot at the missions and abilities of our troops during a time of crisis in San Diego.” None of the blogs nor the Move America Forward statement included Boxer’s actual words. All I could find in a Web search was this statement reported on “The News Hour with Jim Lehrer”: “Right now, we are down 50 percent in terms of our National Guard equipment because they’re all in Iraq, the equipment, half of the equipment. So we really need help. I think all of our states are down in terms of equipment.”

California guard warned of less effective response to fires due to equipment shortages caused by Iraq by Think Progress, 2007
https://thinkprogress.org/ca-guard-warned-of-less-effective-response-to-fires-due-to-equipment-shortages-caused-by-iraq-42efa099a8c5#.77l42kw8s

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