Storms kill 13 in Texas, Oklahoma; Houston flooded..and the rain continues!
HOUSTON |
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| Hurricane Sandy 2012 |
In January 2013, the US House of Representatives finally voted to grant post Hurricane emergency federal disaster relief aid to the eastern corridor of the United States. Of course, Republicans in the US House were not only against the relief aid, the party was also seething about New Jersey Governor Chris Christie;s "snuggling" with President Obama while seeking relief for New Jersey and its affected constituents.
You nor I should have been the least it surprised at the list of GOP representatives ho voted against Sandy Relief aide. Moreover, the Speaker of the House and third in ascendancy to the US Presidency, John Boehner, did not cast vote.
Excerpt
The measure passed unanimously through the Senate, but 67 members of the House of Representatives voted "no" to assisting people who were left, at best, powerless or homeless by a hurricane in November. All 67 are Republicans:
- Justin Amash (R-MI)
- Andy Barr (R-KY)
- Dan Benishek (R-MI)
- Kerry Bentivolio (R-MI)
- Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
- Jim Bridenstine (R-OK)
- Mo Brooks (R-AL)
- Paul Broun (R-GA)
- Steve Chabot (R-OH)
- Doug Collins (R-GA)
- Mike Conaway (R-TX)
- Tom Cotton (R-AR)
- Steve Daines (R-MT)
- Ron DeSantis (R-FL)
- Scott DesJarlais (R-TN)
- Sean Duffy (R-WI)
- Jeff Duncan (R-SC)
- Jimmy Duncan (R-TN)
- Stephen Fincher (R-TN)
- John Fleming (R-LA)
- Bill Flores (R-TX)
- Virginia Foxx (R-NC)
- Trent Franks (R-AZ)
- Louie Gohmert (R-TX)
- Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)
- Paul Gosar (R-AZ)
- Trey Gowdy (R-SC)
- Tom Graves (R-GA)
- Sam Graves (R-MO)
- Andrew Harris (R-MD)
- George Holding (R-NC)
- Richard Hudson (R-NC)
- Tim Huelskamp (R-KS)
- Randy Hultgren (R-IL)
- Lynn Jenkins (R-KS)
- Jim Jordan (R-OH)
- Doug Lamborn (R-CO)
- Kenny Marchant (R-TX)
- Thomas Massie (R-KY)
- Tom McClintock (R-CA)
- Mark Meadows (R-NC)
- Markwayne Mullin (R-OK)
- Mick Mulvaney (R-SC)
- Randy Neugebauer (R-TX)
- Steven Palazzo (R-MS)
- Steve Pearce (R-NM)
- Scott Perry (R-PA)
- Tom Petri (R-WI)
- Mike Pompeo (R-KS)
- Tom Price (R-GA)
- Phil Roe (R-TN)
- Todd Rokita (R-IN)
- Keith Rothfus (R-PA)
- Ed Royce (R-CA)
- Paul Ryan (R-WI)
- Matt Salmon (R-AZ)
- David Schweikert (R-AZ)
- Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI)
- Marlin Stutzman (R-IN)
- Mac Thornberry (R-TX)
- Randy Weber (R-TX)
- Brad Wenstrup (R-OH)
- Roger Williams (R-TX)
- Joe Wilson (R-SC)
- Rob Woodall (R-GA)
- Kevin Yoder (R-KS)
- Ted Yoho (R-FL)
The most high-profile Congressman on the list is Paul Ryan, failed vice presidential nominee. It also includes Mo Brooks, Ted Yoho, Ron DeSantis, Steven Palazzo and John Fleming from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi, all of which are states that received much-needed federal aid following Hurricane Katrina, the only hurricane in American history that was more costly than Sandy. Speaker Boehner did not vote.
During decade long periods of increasing natural disaster, the United States actually has a political party that has shown a propensity to ignore the need or aid to its citizens (many of which actually voted them in office). Since the early 1980s data shows an increasing need for such appropriations. And, such aid is generally forthcoming after months of bickering and negotiations with GOP members of Congress. Take a look at he following graphic, and think if you can rationalize a need to reduce federal aid in case of catastrophe.
FEMA and Disaster spending as political sport.
Excerpt
On Monday, the New York Times reported on how disaster relief victims in Pennsylvania were fed up with the FEMA bickering and just wanted the federal aid to arrive in their communities. (i.e. "While they are rattling on among themselves down there in Washington, people are suffering.") Nowhere though, did the Times article clearly explain that the reason FEMA funding had stalled was because Republicans were insisting on unprecedented, budget-cutting terms for the relief.
Last week, an on-air CNN reporter noted that traditionally FEMA funding "is not something that's a political hot potato," but that it suddenly had become one. The reporter though, never really explained why it had become a political hot potato. (Answer: It was a deliberate Republican strategy.)
Time and again in recent days we saw FEMA reports that simply glossed over the crucial context:
--"House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) last week said lawmakers should offset disaster funds, given the nation's budgetary crisis." [The Hill]
--"In addition to the disagreement over how much money these agencies should get, House Republican leaders are insisting that the $1 billion in their bill that those agencies would get right away to cover recovery costs be offset with $1.5 billion in cuts to a loan program that helps automakers retool their operations to make more fuel-efficient cars." [CNN]
--"The Senate has approved some $6.9 billion in FEMA funding, the House over $3.5 billion, but House Republicans insist that the FEMA spending be offset with cuts elsewhere in the budget and Senate Democrats refuse to go along." [NPR]
Ted Cruz: Pay no attention to my vote of two years ago; deal with my request now. Hypocrisy at the highest level and revealing political malfeasance.
Lack of strategic thought and irrational callousness ".....back to the states."
Disaster relief 2012
Now back to Texas and Oklahoma.
Both states are Red Stages with governors and federal elected officials who often stand against expeditious appropriations to help people when nature deals deadly and destructive blows. Regarding Oklahoma, the representative who voted against Sandy relief aid was particular out of step with reality as that state has annual request for federal aid as it sits in the heart of Tornado Alley. The list above also includes representatives from Louisiana and Florida. Both states have benefited from federal disaster relief, yet standing lockstep with failed GOP governance was far more important.
The citizens of Oklahoma and Texas will need the full measure of aid from Washington DC. I heard reports President Obama called Texas Governor Abbott on Monday of this week. The call included assurances of federal disaster relief aid. I wonder if Abbott spoke to the president about Jade Helm 15 and the certain federal invasion of Texas?
One a more humorous note. I would love to see Ron Paul secure disaster relief funding from this guy:
Joel Olstein
Or this guy:
Creflo Dollar's Mansion
Did you tithe today?
No, Ron Paul the churches will not be in session and issuing aid to people for natural disaster relief.
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