Democratic Representative Maxine Waters, whose constituency encompasses Los Angeles, asserted during a NewsNation interview on Friday that her call for increased taxes on the wealthy in response to the devastating wildfires in the area is not a political maneuver.
In her discussion with host Chris Cuomo, Waters, who is a multimillionaire herself, justified her stance by stating that “services cost money,” highlighting the financial resources required to address the wildfires, despite the fact that residents of Los Angeles and California are already subject to some of the highest tax rates in the nation.
“I am not engaged in the blame game. I am not focused on whether Governor Gavin Newsom (D) is attempting to safeguard his political future or run for president; that is irrelevant,” Waters remarked to Cuomo.
“The primary point we must recognize is that services require funding, and we ought to ensure that the wealthiest individuals in this country, specifically the top 1% who are currently shielded, contribute their fair share of taxes so that we can secure the necessary resources to provide these services,” she stated.
“With those funds and resources, it is the responsibility of those elected to fulfill their duties, regardless of their political affiliation—be it Democrat, Republican, or otherwise,” she added. “At this moment, we should all feel a profound sense of concern, yet we must maintain our faith and remain focused on assisting those in need.”
“Political discussions can wait. Conversations about Gavin Newsom and the Democrats can occur later,” she emphasized.
According to IRS statistics, the top 1 percent of earners contribute nearly 41 percent of all federal income taxes.
The top 5% of earners contribute over 65% of federal income taxes, while the highest 10% account for 75%, and the top 25% are responsible for 89%. In contrast, the lower half of earners, those making less than $46,627 annually, contribute only 2% of federal personal income tax, as reported by CBS Austin in October.
Simultaneously, Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, a former U.S. congresswoman, are facing criticism for a series of missteps that detractors argue have intensified the devastation and loss of life.
On Sunday, Vice President-elect JD Vance refuted erroneous assertions that the incoming administration intended to withhold emergency wildfire assistance, following anchor Shannon Bream’s inquiry regarding comments made by the president-elect during a press conference in Los Angeles in September 2024.
“We won’t give him money to put out all his fires,” Trump remarked about Newsom. “And if we don’t give him the money to put out his fires, he’s got problems.”
When Bream questioned whether Trump would act on this statement, Vance clarified that the goal is to ensure that federal aid is allocated and utilized more effectively. “No, look, President Trump cares about all Americans, right? He is the president for all Americans. And I think that he intends to have FEMA and other federal responses much, much better and much more attuned to what’s happening on the ground,” Vance stated.
In response to Newsom’s invitation for Trump to visit California, Vance expressed, “I know the president would love to visit California” and conveyed sympathy for those impacted by the natural disasters.
“Regardless of your political views, it is difficult not to feel heartbroken for our fellow Americans enduring such challenging times,” Vance remarked.
“I believe, quite frankly, that the federal government must improve its performance. President Trump is dedicated to enhancing disaster relief efforts, whether for hurricane victims and flood victims in North Carolina or fire victims in California. We simply must do better.”
