Western governors make bipartisan plea as states battle record heat and drought

A pair of governors on Sunday called on the federal government for help and pushed for solutions as their states grapple with recording-breaking temperatures, drought and wildfires that officials have said is being driven by climate change.

"We need resources and we need boots on the ground. For example, we need financial resources to be able to purchase critical, essential equipment, like aircraft, to help us fight fire," Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, said on CBS' "Face The Nation" when asked what the federal government should do to help states prepare for conditions that scientists warn could be a new normal. "It also means that agencies like FEMA, who do not aid our undocumented families -- we need to make sure that that happens."

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican and sixth-generation farmer, on Sunday said there are several necessary ways to address the ongoing issue but stressed water conservation. 

"We have to conserve water better, we have to use less water. ... We have water restrictions across the state," Cox said during another interview with CBS. "We have to store more water. The people that settled these arid mountain valleys and western states knew that. We're not doing a great job of that anymore. I'm grateful that in this bipartisan infrastructure push there is money for that type of infrastructure, storing water above ground and underground as well will make a big difference."...MORE

Pretty disappointing in both instances.

The R appears to endorse the $2.2 trillion Biden infrastructure proposal, because it contains $$ for water projects. In Biden's proposal, only 7 percent is for what traditionally has been included in infrastructure (roads, bridges, ports, etc.) Under an expanded definition of infrastructure, which includes water, only 24 percent is spent on those type projects. Where does the rest go? Just one example would be $400 billion for home care workers. It would also raise corporate taxes and subsidize electric vehicles. 

I don't think we can spend our way out of this mess. 

The real corker, though, has to go to the D governor. When asked how the feds could help the states if these conditions continue, she says:

"It also means that agencies like FEMA, who do not aid our undocumented families -- we need to make sure that that happens."

The question was posed under the pretext that if the heat and drought became permanent, what could the feds do to assist the states in their transition to a "new normal", and her response is make sure FEMA aid goes to illegal aliens!