Maxine Waters says California's wildfire response was hampered by insufficient funding and inadequate preparation by state leaders and PG&E. She argues the wealthiest 1% should pay more in taxes to fund disaster services. The host frames this as Waters blaming fire victims for not paying enough taxes.
Representative Maxie Padwater. Clip number 11, por favor, Zach.
Instead of— I agree with you about Democrats or Republicans. Get the information up on the screens. Where can you go?
I agree.
Altadena. Where can you go in Pasadena? Where can you go in Malibu? Where can you go in the Palisades? Where can you go in San Fernando Valley? They don't know. They're looking for help. And that's what we should be dedicated to.
I agree.
And you too.
We are doing it. We will continue to do it. I think you are right. However, it can also be seen that you don't want to talk about the politics because it's on your party, because the mayor and the governor are Democrats who arguably should have had the people in Altadena better prepared for this. They should have the resources more available. They don't need me to put them up because the state has been doing the work. And that if they've been preparing the situations for wildfires like they were made aware of, instead of cutting deals with PG&E and insurance companies, they would have prepared the state. That is not unfair criticism. Is it too soon? Maybe. But the questions are real.
Let me tell you something. I'm not in the business of protecting anybody, and I think that my work over the years that I've been involved, have been absolutely on point in dealing what has to be dealt with in order to help the people. First thing you got to understand is services cost money, and we should be willing to get the richest people in this country, the richest 1% that is protected, make sure they pay their fair taxes so that we can have the money to provide the services. With that money and with those resources, the people who have been selected or elected to do the job should do the job. I don't care who it is. It could be Democrat, it could be Republican.
All right, that's enough of Maxie Padwaters. Listen, guys, you hear— you heard what she had to say. Listen, for those of you that have lost your homes in Los Angeles, you need to understand that Representative Maxie Padwaters has just said it's your fault. All right, the top 1% are not paying their fair share. Apparently 50% of your income, apparently what is the state income tax for California? 12, 13%. That's not enough. You need to give people like Maxie Padwaters more of your money. And then maybe then, maybe then your leaders in Los Angeles, your leaders in California will get a clue. All right, so you just haven't divvied up enough. And since you haven't divvied up enough of your hard-earned money, you get what you get. You get a burned-down home. That's the Democrat Party. That's what Representative Maxie Padwaters had to say.
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