Eric Cantor Pressed FEMA About Aid For His District As Agency Struggled For Funding
WASHINGTON -- Federal Emergency Management Agency officials have been busy convincing Congress to quickly fill its emergency aid coffers, as the agency finds its funds drained by the natural disasters that have hit the country in recent months. The insistence, led by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), that Congress should cut spending elsewhere to offset disaster relief funding, led to a partisan standoff and nearly shut down the government.
On Friday, however, FEMA officials found themselves busy answering to Cantor for another reason: He had requested a conference call to get updates on the disbursement of aid requested by Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) for his district, which was affected by the Aug. 23 East Coast earthquake.
According to a read-out of the call from Cantor's office, as reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, "FEMA said they have received the Governor's request and sent it to the White House for a decision but could not provide any specific information on timing. Even when asked for an estimate based on past applications they were unable to do so."
A FEMA spokesperson confirmed that the call happened on Friday, and said Cantor's office had requested it on Sept. 22.
Cantor also called Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, "asking for additional information and a better sense of timing," according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Napolitano's office declined to comment.
Jesse Ferguson, spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), quickly criticized Cantor for looking for FEMA aid while the agency was struggling to stay afloat during the congressional funding standoff.
"The only thing worse than Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor's outrageous plan to hold disaster relief hostage to his push for radical cuts in job creation is his brazen hypocrisy in trying to convince his constituents back home that he stood with them in the first place," said Ferguson.
archer wrote: And some people really think Washington will change if they elect more Republicans, especially Tea Party Republicans? Yeah right....
:rofl
Did you read the article? It sounds to me like the FEMA budget ran over, and instead of "business as usual" signing off more spending, Cantor wants offsetting cuts elsewhere first, before increasing the FEMA budget overrun.
This sounds like change to me, the old Washington way would be just add more spending.
But a good ol Huffing and Puffing post outrage is more fun.
If you want to be, press one. If you want not to be, press 2
Republicans are red, democrats are blue, neither of them, gives a flip about you.
If you own home was flooded, wouldn't you be checking in with the people repsonsible for cleaning it up? And at the same time, making the decisions to cut back your discretionary spending to pay for the cleanup.
The Left would have us not only increase discretionary spending, but also take out bigger loans to clean up our home. (We just had a house flood, but lets dine at the Fort tonight with a couple nice bottles of wine, we will just charge it.)
But good post LJ to point out the difference between Conservatives and Liberals.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
