Rep. Gallagher Blasts Newsom’s Failed Backroom Wildfire Deal

Rep. Gallagher Blasts Newsom’s Failed Backroom Wildfire Deal 
Gallagher to Newsom: After Eight Years, California’s Problems and Unaffordability Are Your Legacy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman James Gallagher (CA-01) today blasted Governor Gavin Newsom’s failed last-minute attempt to rewrite California’s wildfire liability system. In a video released today, Gallagher called the backroom proposal another effort to move costs around rather than confront the policies that have made electricity and insurance increasingly unaffordable for Californians. 

Newsom attempted to push the proposal through in the final days of his last legislative session with less than 72 hours for public review. Both Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature ultimately rejected the deal.

“Governor Newsom had the votes, he had the power, and he had eight years,” said Congressman Gallagher. “Yet, with just months remaining in office, he’s suddenly discovered that the system is broken and that he has the answer to save us all. Apparently, everyone is responsible for California’s problems except the people who have actually been running the state.”

Gallagher represented Paradise in the State Assembly when the Camp Fire devastated the community in 2018 and spent the years that followed fighting for victims through PG&E’s bankruptcy and California’s response.

“The last time Newsom did utility reform, the hedge funds, the insurance companies and the trial lawyers all got paid,” Gallagher said. “The wildfire victims got devalued stock and broken promises.”

Then came the utility bills.

Gallagher’s constituents watched their electricity rates climb as California regulators approved rate increase after rate increase. Today, Californians are paying more without getting the safer and more reliable energy system they were promised.

“The governor said this week that we need to deal with reality. I couldn’t agree more,” Gallagher said. “The energy policy of California is a total disaster. We pay the highest rates in the nation and we still have old infrastructure that is sparking wildfires.”

Gallagher said Newsom’s latest proposal would not have fixed the underlying problem. Instead, it would have shifted wildfire liability from utilities to insurance companies, potentially leaving Californians paying the price through higher costs.

Gallagher is calling for California to modernize its aging energy infrastructure, move away from its dependence on the big utility model and get serious about reducing the dangerous buildup of fuels on public lands before the next catastrophic wildfire.

“Governor Newsom is trying to patch the roof of a burning building as he’s walking out the door,” Gallagher said. “He doesn’t actually want to solve the fundamental problem because that would require a look in the mirror.”

“Governor Newsom, stop pointing fingers,” Gallagher continued. “After eight years, California’s problems aren’t somebody else’s legacy, they’re yours.”

Watch Congressman Gallagher’s full remarks HERE.

Click HERE to download the video.

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Rep. James Gallagher | 408 Cannon House Office Building | Washington, DC 20515 US

Congressman James Gallagher proudly represents California's First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.