Can't get lower or more disgraceful than this in my book ~ ~ there are "live links" to more/corroborating info in the original ~ Sooz

37 Congressional Republicans Opposed Sandy Relief After Supporting Disaster Aid For Home States
By Josh Israel on Jan 7, 2013 at 12:40 pm

After Republicans from Rep. Peter King (R-NY) to Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) lit into Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) for cancelling a promised end-of-session vote on Hurricane Sandy relief, the House overwhelmingly approved a small portion of the needed funds on Friday. While the first vote provided just $9 billion in funds — compared to the $60 billion total requested — 67 Republicans still voted against even this bare-bones package. The majority of those Representatives had, however, supported emergency aid efforts following disasters in their own states.

The House is set to vote on the remaining $50 billion requested for the Sandy relief next week.

Eighteen of the 67 dissenters are first-term members, sworn in just a day earlier. But of the 49 Representatives with a prior House record who opposed Sandy aid, at least 37 had previously advocated for or touted emergency aid services following other disasters that affected their own constituents.

The “hypocritical” list includes:

1. Rep. Dan Benishek (R-MI): Endorsed emergency crop relief assistance after spring freezes.
2. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): Asked for disaster relief after flooding.
3. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL): Promoted relief funds after a tornado.
4. Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA): applauded FEMA flooding relief.
5. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH): Asked for disaster relief after storms.
6. Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX): Asked President George W. Bush to approve disaster relief after storms caused flooding.
7. Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN): Endorsed disaster funding after storms.
8. Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI): Backed disaster funding after storms.
9. Rep. John Duncan (R-TN): Asked for a disaster declaration after storms caused flooding.
10. Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-TN): Endorsed disaster tax relief and touted available disaster relief funds.
11. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-TX): Endorsed President George W. Bush’s disaster declaration and its resulting USDA crop freezing relief.
12. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX): Pushed for a Bush administration disaster declaration to include more counties after Hurricane Ike.
13. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA): Endorsed drought relief emergency crop assistance.
14. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ): Asked the Forest Service for immediate relief after floods.
15. Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO): Begged for a disaster declaration after flooding.
16. Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD): Backed USDA emergency relief during a drought.
17. Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL): Requested emergency drought relief from the USDA.
18. Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS): Supported disaster declaration after storms.
19. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH): Asked for a disaster declaration after storms.
20. Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO): Asked for disaster support amid wildfires.
21. Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-TX): Asked for disaster declaration after Tropical Storm Hermine.
22. Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC): Personally took an SBA loan as part of a disaster relief program.
23. Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-TX): Blasted FEMA for denying a disaster relief request after wildfires and pushed for USDA disaster relief for farmers.
24. Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-MS): Backed emergency funds for Katrina cleanup.
25. Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM): Pushed the Bush administration to declare a disaster after Hurricane Dolly.
26. Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI): Applauded disaster declaration during a drought.
27. Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS): Encouraged constituents to apply for USDA assistance during drought.
28. Rep. Tom Price (R-GA): Called for FEMA disaster relief after tornadoes.
29. Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN): Urged a disaster declaration after tornadoes.
30. Rep. Todd Rokita (R-IN): Backed a request for disaster relief after flooding.
31. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA): Called for USDA and SBA relief after fires.
32. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI): Backed a disaster declaration after flooding.
33. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI): Backed disaster relief after flooding.
34. Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN):Backed a request for disaster relief after flooding.
35. Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX): Blasted the denial of a disaster declaration amid Texas wildfires.
36. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC): Endorsed USDA drought relief.
37. Rep. Robert Woodall (R-GA): Requested a disaster declaration from USDA amid drought.

Former U.S. Senator Alfonse D’Amato (R-NY) blasted the opponents, telling the New York Daily News, “They’re a bunch of jackasses. Every one of the 67 who voted no are nothing more than pawns of a philosophy that is not backed up by facts.”

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/01/07/1407641/37-congressional-republicans-opposed-sandy-relief-after-supporting-disaster-aid-for-home-states/

How many Dems did the same?

Meanwhile, the hole is getting deeper and deeper.
Pretty soon they'll have to apply for a Chinese visa.

The chamber passed the bill (HR 41) by voice vote shortly after the House advanced the measure 354-67, more than two months after the storm devastated parts of the East Coast.

http://www.rollcall.com/news/house_pass ... os=htmbtxt

I am sickened by this actually.

New Jersey gets the least of its own money from the federal government. $.61 of every dollar of taxes paid. NY gets $.79.

There are people whose homes are destroyed. People weren't just without power for a few hours. Wherever that impression came from I don't know???? Actually it's infuriating!!!!!

Typical "I've got mine, sucks to be you" attitude.

Okay, I admit I'm not up on what exactly is meant by "relief" but I'm willing to learn.

I can understand "relief" (which I assume getting some federal government controlled, tax payer's money) for natural disasters, or life threatening situations: floods, forest fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.

All of those things destroy property and infrastructure. They cost jobs and create non-functioning banks, schools, supermarkets and fuel for driving, heating and cooling.

But what in the hell is "drought relief" for, and how much does it suck out of the federal government's limited funds?

Have we been having "Berlin Airlift" style water drops on dry fields? Have we been altering the channels of rivers? Have we been trucking in water for farmers and citizens.

Just what, exactly, is drought relief?

If it is to pay farmers whose crops don't do well so the farmers can't make enough money, well, for one thing, that's what farmers risk, every year of their lives. That's what farmings all about, isn't it?

And in what way is "drought relief" supposed to help them. Does it pay them emergency money for the money their crops don't produce?
What a lovely gimmick is possible with that set of rules. Why bother to plant, weed, harvest, etc, that. Just don't plant seeds and collect the money for not producing.

Isn't that a whole hell of a lot like the reluctantly granted (by TPers and GOPers?) unemployment compensation for city dwellers who are required to go out every day and apply for any job they may find, regardless of how low in pay or how over or under qualified the worker may be?

Seriously, folks, what is "drought relief?" Who gets it? How much is it? What good is it? Does it bring rain? Is it a bunch of Native Americans doing a dance on your front lawn?

I see that my Representative, Joe Wilson, whose most energetically offered bills are usually congressional mention of some corporate entity or other, is among those pressing for "drought relief."

Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida have been enduring a prolonged drought, year's worth. I am totally unaware of anything being done in this State that requires Federal Emergency funds. Are we just throwing money at States because agribusinesses and landscaping businesses are not doing well. The food prices here are not getting any cheaper and the supply of food is decreasing.

Sooooo, whose getting the money, and for what purpose? Maybe someone living in agricultural land can 'splain it to me. Drought doesn't destroy property, or prevent citizens maintaining their living quarters, or attend school, or get to the hospital, or shut down their electric system, and their fire departments and police departments. So what in the hell is "drought relief" money used for???

Thanks in advance for enlightening me. I am truly lacking in imagination to explain what taxpayer money can do to grant relief to anyone from a drought. Water is needed, and money, so far as I know, isn't purchasing any water deliveries to this area.

nite.

jd

Does this help any?

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usd ... ASSISTANCE

Thanks, Oskar. It does help a lot to clarify how the money is supposedly used. I am wondering if these funds are used for what is intended.

I've seen too much evidence of government grants being given to people who live in an area designated as a "Disaster" but have somehow escaped with little to no damage. Of those cases I have observed, without exception, the people who took grants, which they did not have to pay back, took the money when they had suffered no loss.

I am not saying this is so with Hurricane Sandy because there was clearly enormous and extensive damage done in the area affected. That's part of what makes this so outrageous to me, that some government members would try to deny, or delay, the help the people and areas affected truly need.

I have lived in hurricane areas most of my life and I have seen a whole lot of criminality, or greed, by folks who take money when they've had no damage.

Of course I was not out observing the highways and byways, but I just don't get what this drought relief money is for. I feel rather certain that if water trucks had been delivering water to animals in this area (Joe Wilson's area) there would have been some local news about it. During the winter storms where cattle out west needed to have food air lifted to them, it was on the national news.

Thanks, Oskar. I apologize for not searching for the information myself. For some reason, it just never occurred to me. I guess I am really getting old.

jd

I guess I am really getting old.

Me too, then. I frequently do the same.

The thing is, Sandy was only the beginning. We're going to be seeing monster storm after monster storm now. We can't afford to keep having massive relief efforts. It'll bankrupt us.

I'm not really sure why the federal government steps in when there is some disaster. It should be the responsibility of local government and insurance companies.

Streets: City's responsibility
Gas: Gas company's responsibility
Water: Water company's responsibility
Power: Electric company's responsibility
Homes: Individual homeowner's insurance

I've long advocated that we should do away with local government, and try to federalize everything. See, you can't have it both ways -- either it's a local problem, or a federal problem. Why should I pay for New York's local problems when they don't pay for mine? If my house catches fire and burns to the ground and I don't have insurance or enough insurance, will the federal government come to my rescue? Or am I simply shit out of luck?

If the big earth quake or your famous wild fires hit your state you'll meet many volunteers from NJ and NY. I'm sure their tax dollars will also flow towards Cali to help in disaster relief.
Btw, that "pork" in the Sandy Relief package also includes some pre-emptive measures to possibly soften the impact of future disasters.

Milgram's 37