Three Republicans Who Opposed Sandy Relief Now Demand Disaster Aid For Arizona

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Arizona Republicans Sen. Jeff Flake, Sen. John McCain, and Rep. Paul Gosar all voted against emergency relief funding after SuperStorm Sandy ravaged much of the New Jersey and New York area earlier this year. Now, following an Arizona wildfire, the same trio is vocally complaining that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is not doing enough to aid their state.

In light of sequestration and budget tightening, FEMA haslimited fundingand cannot respond to every single flood, fire, and other issue that hits. Last week, the agency announced that it would not declare Yarnell, Arizona, a federal disaster area. A spokesmanexplainedthat while the agency had assisted firefighters during the deadly June blaze, “the damage to uninsured private residences from this event was not beyond the response and recovery capabilities of the state/local governments, and voluntary agencies.”

McCain and Flake, who hadpartnered to askfor a federal disaster declaration, issued ajoint statementMonday, lamenting that it was “a shame that FEMA couldn’t find it within their mission to help rebuild their homes and lives.” Ariled McCainadded that in light of the 19 firefighter deaths and the 134 destroyed homes, “the damage that was done was very substantial and, I believe, qualified. So, we’re going to do everything we can to urge the president to change his mind. Including, I will be making some phone calls.”

Gosar, who hadalso requestedan emergency designation,released a statementof his own, saying, “The people of Yarnell do not ask much from the federal government,” but that here it was “reasonable to expect FEMA to step in.”

In January, the Senate passed a long-delayed $50.5 billion Sandy relief package, but among the 36 Senatorsvoting against the billwereFlake and McCain. McCaincriticized provisionsin the bill that might not be spent immediately as “questionable” and argued “we cannot justify this type of spending.”

When the House gave its approval to the supplemental spending package, Gosar was among180 Representativesvoting no. At that time, heexplained, “I am more than willing to support the people and businesses impacted by Hurricane Sandy, but that would not take over $50 billion taxpayer dollars.” But Gosar evenvoted againstabarebones $9 billion funding increasefor FEMA for Sandy relief — one of just 67 members to do so.

Gosar, a climate change denier,has blamed “extreme environmental groups” for Arizona’s many wildfires.

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/08/14/2467861/three-arizona-republicans-fema-hypocrisy/


green glass the south

 

[Slystallion]

Hate stories like this because i doubt any of the senators didn't want to send money to Sandy what they opposed was other shyt added in by other politicians that had nothing to do with Sandy

I just wish people were honest on both sides...I question all sides because where bias exists there is a tendency not to tell the whole truth just the truth that justifies your beliefs

The world would be a better place if everyone was more honest and truthful because then people read this without knowing all the facts and spread misinformation

 

[dallastexas]

no, they intentionally said fuk sandy relief,,, just like the oklahoma senators that came to suck obamas dikk after the tornadoes fuked their state up

fuk the repubs

 

[MostReal]

these cacs man