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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Battle Over Disaster Aid Brewing In Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) - A political battle between the tea party-driven House and the Democratic-controlled Senate is threatening to slow money to the government's main disaster aid account, which is so low that new rebuilding projects have been put on hold to help victims of Hurricane Irene and future disasters.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has less than $800 million in its disaster coffers. A debate over whether to cut spending elsewhere in the federal budget to pay for tornado and hurricane aid seems likely to delay legislation to provide the billions of dollars needed to replenish FEMA's disaster aid in the upcoming budget year.

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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am a moderate Republican--certainly not a "Tea Bagger." To use politics to deny much-needed funds is unconscionable. We are able to fund billions and billions for the war in Afghanistan; we ought to be able to fund billions to aid in fixing up what has been left in Irene's wake. This is the kind of thing that borrowing is for, even if it means we go deeper in debt. We have to take care of our people and infrastructure.

Anonymous said...

Wicomico estimated cost yesterday was far short to qualify for FEMA money. So they are going to re-count their losses just to be sure. Don't you think it's all about the money. The republicans are just trying to cut the waste which I am all for. But I'm sure the democrats will play politics with the blame game. And calling yourself a moderate just means you helped get Barak elected. It's time the American people draw a line in the sand people.