As wildfires rage in Southern California, Governor Schwarzenegger is calling again for an increase in homeowner's insurance fees to help pay for more fire equipment. The Governor first proposed the idea in January. It would have increased fees by an average of ten dollars for homeowners and businesses. Democrats supported the idea but Republicans considered it a tax and defeated it. The Governor says it's time to reconsider:
Schwarzenegger: It doesn't matter what you call it. What we need is the extra $140 million, so we can buy the extra engines - the 131 engines and the 10 extra helicopters and all of those things that we need because as we have always said, this is new ballgame now.
Governor Schwarzenegger estimates that the state spent about $500 million last year to fight fires in California. He says despite the current budget crunch, no dollar will be spared in fighting fires.
Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles and Ventura counties due to the wildfires burning there.
