California wildfires prompt deficit debate in Congress

Deadly wildfires in California could pose a spending challenge for Republican leaders in Washington ahead of the November midterms, putting House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in a tough spot as he seeks the Speaker’s gavel.

McCarthy, along with Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), climbed the ranks of GOP leadership largely on promises to rein in deficit spending, which would increase if Congress passes yet another emergency relief bill without offsets in response to the ongoing disaster.

California is expected to request federal funds to recoup damages in the coming weeks after cost assessments are calculated. But with the largest fires still burning — and with more expected to follow as the wildfire season grows longer — some lawmakers are already warning that Congress is just one natural disaster away from pursuing a big boost in emergency disaster aid.

“The big question out there is how many fires, and what else?” Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) said Thursday by phone from Northern California, where several fires are raging. “Another hurricane season is underway — what’s going to come of that?

“Those kinds of things would lead to, I would suggest, another emergency supplemental.”

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/400184-california-wildfires-prompt-deficit-debate-in-congress?userid=229233