Washington, Oct 29: It was supposed to be a victory lap through the nation's capital for Arnold Schwarzenegger, but with wildfires devastating southern California, the governor-elect's meetings with Congressional leaders focussed on a more pressing problem, aid for his state. Schwarzenegger, who arrived in Washington late yesterday, planned to use his first visit since his October 07 election to plead for additional federal resources to fight what authorities are calling the worst fire emergency in the state in more than a decade.
The governor-elect was to meet with members of the house and senate leadership and the California Congressional delegation, with the fires to be the chief topic of discussion. He was also set to meet with cabinet secretaries and leading members of the senate appropriations committee, which has jurisdiction over how federal funds are allocated.
A meeting with officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency was likely to be scheduled tomorrow.
Bureau Report