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A Republican California state lawmaker has proposed diverting billions of dollars intended for high-speed rail to pay for water infrastructure and wildfire prevention efforts.
Newsweek reached out for comment to the office of Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom via email and the California High-Speed Rail Authority via online press contact form on Wednesday night.
Why It Matters
California’s high-speed rail system, which aims to eventually link Northern and Southern California at speeds that could rival air travel, has faced a series of delays and setbacks amid a ballooning budget and political battles over funding.
The recent devastating wildfires in Southern California quickly triggered raging political discord over the cause of the crisis, with President Donald Trump and many of his Republican allies blaming Newsom and other California Democrats.
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP
What To Know
Republican California Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo, who represents a water-strapped area of the state’s agricultural Central Valley region, introduced a bill last week that would block annual funding intended for the construction of the rail line and divert it to build new water infrastructure and wildfire prevention projects instead.
The legislation, California Assembly Bill 267, would move $1 billion in annual high-speed rail funding to the state’s general fund with stipulations that the money only be used for water and wildfire prevention projects.
Macedo suggested that the measure was needed to prevent disasters similar to the recent Los Angeles-area fires, saying in a statement to X, formerly Twitter, that Southern California was not facing “a unique catastrophe” and that “the State needs to do more to prevent such tragic disaster.”
“By all metrics, the High Speed Rail is a colossal failure,” Macedo added. “The $1 billion spent on High Speed Rail each year would be better spent on the protection of lives, homes and jobs against wildfire and securing water infrastructure for our economy to grow.”
The bill could face significant challenges passing in the state Legislature, which is controlled by Democrats who largely favor the high-speed rail project and might argue that there are other ways of preventing fires.
What People Are Saying
California Congressman Vince Fong, a Republican representing a district in the Central Valley region, in a statement supporting Macedo’s bill: “The state needs to do something differently. It is crucial that the state act with a sense of urgency and dedicate more resources to remove vegetation and properly manage forests to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires.
“Our state has endured years of multiple wildfires persevering through unfortunate devastation, and this is a better use of precious taxpayer dollars. I will advocate on the federal level to help to protect Californians from wildfires and strengthen our water infrastructure.”
The Fresno County Republican Party, in a statement posted to X: “We commend Assemblymember Macedo for introducing this important bill and urge all legislators to support AB 267, a commonsense solution to prioritize public safety and long-term sustainability in California.”
What Happens Next
Laws mandate continuation of $1 billion in annual funding for California’s high-speed rail project. It is unclear whether Newsom would veto Macedo’s bill if it passes through the Legislature.