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Conservative Republicans are holding up more money for the Federal Emergency Management Agency over demands that additional financial assistance be offset by cuts elsewhere in the budget.
Scoring points apparently means more to the tea party crowd than aiding fellow Americans hit hard over the summer by wildfires, flooding and other catastrophes.
Using disaster victims as pawns in a shakedown disguised as political principle does not reflect the nation's priorities or its compassion for those who need help.
This nation has a long history of responding quickly to those hit by natural calamity for a simple reason: Storms, fires and tornadoes can sweep away lives and livelihoods in a moment, leaving victims without a home, clothes, income or any way to get around.
FEMA provides money for temporary housing, home repairs, personal property and other essentials.
The assistance is a lifeline that gets people and entire communities back on their feet, but speed and order are vital to relief operations.
Republicans insisted that aid to FEMA be cut in half, to about $3.7 billion, in a package that also required $1.6 billion in other budget cuts.
The move was another attempt to hang federal spending around the Democrats' necks in the run-up to the 2012 elections, even though disaster aid has always a bipartisan priority.
Providing fellow citizens with a safe place to sleep, clean water and other basics should not be held hostage...
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/playing-politics-with-disaster-relief/1193783
Scoring points apparently means more to the tea party crowd than aiding fellow Americans hit hard over the summer by wildfires, flooding and other catastrophes.
Using disaster victims as pawns in a shakedown disguised as political principle does not reflect the nation's priorities or its compassion for those who need help.
This nation has a long history of responding quickly to those hit by natural calamity for a simple reason: Storms, fires and tornadoes can sweep away lives and livelihoods in a moment, leaving victims without a home, clothes, income or any way to get around.
FEMA provides money for temporary housing, home repairs, personal property and other essentials.
The assistance is a lifeline that gets people and entire communities back on their feet, but speed and order are vital to relief operations.
Republicans insisted that aid to FEMA be cut in half, to about $3.7 billion, in a package that also required $1.6 billion in other budget cuts.
The move was another attempt to hang federal spending around the Democrats' necks in the run-up to the 2012 elections, even though disaster aid has always a bipartisan priority.
Providing fellow citizens with a safe place to sleep, clean water and other basics should not be held hostage...
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/playing-politics-with-disaster-relief/1193783