Final answer:
The allusion in the sentence is a reference to the historical event of the Great Fire of Rome, implying that the state politicians are neglecting the worsening drought.
Step-by-step explanation:
The allusion in the sentence is a reference to the historical event of the Great Fire of Rome, which occurred during the rule of the Roman Emperor Nero in 64 AD. The phrase 'while Rome burns' is commonly used as an allusion to describe a situation where people are neglecting or ignoring a critical problem or issue while focusing on trivial matters. Here, it suggests that the state politicians are not addressing the worsening drought and instead are preoccupied with unrelated matters.
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