Rep. Maxine Waters, in a NewsNation interview, defended her call for higher taxes on the wealthy to fund wildfire response efforts, arguing that “services cost money.” Despite California residents already paying high taxes, Waters, a multimillionaire, emphasized the need for the richest 1% to contribute more. She dismissed political blame, urging focus on helping those affected by the fires. While the wealthiest 1% pay nearly 41% of federal income taxes, Waters advocated for greater tax fairness. Meanwhile, critics blamed California leaders like Gov. Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass for exacerbating wildfire damage. Vice President-elect JD Vance responded to claims about withholding wildfire aid, stressing the need for better disaster relief and competent governance.
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