WOW! ABC NEWS: Hurricane Sandy: What Romney Says He'd Do to FEMA
Wow, MSM is actually doing a decent job focusing attention on this.... ABC does try to make a lame 'fairness' argument... but fails... this article is Bad for Romney... I hope many more follow.
------------------------
Hurricane Sandy: What Romney Says He'd Do to FEMA
Though the presidential campaigns have been focused on Hurricane Sandy, the politically sticky topic of disaster relief is making its way to the forefront.
With Sandy bearing down on the East Coast, supporters of President Barack Obama are saying that Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney would gut FEMA, leaving it incapable of handling a massive hurricane or tornado.
How would Romney handle FEMA if he was elected president?
In a June 13, 2011 GOP primary debate, Romney suggested that states should assume a more significant role in disaster relief. The debate took place soon after a tornado devastated Joplin, Missouri and other communities, and moderator John King of CNN asked Romney whether states should take on a greater role in paying to repair and rebuild.
"Absolutely. Every time you have an occasion to take something from the federal government and send it back to the states, that's the right direction. And if you can go even further and send it back to the private sector, that's even better," Romney said. "Instead of thinking in the federal budget, what we should cut -- we should ask ourselves the opposite question. What should we keep?"
When asked a follow up on whether disaster relief should shift to the states, Romney said: "We cannot -- we cannot afford to do those things without jeopardizing the future for our kids," he said.
Romney did not go as far as some reports have suggested, which say he would shut down the agency entirely. But he has made it clear that he would shift more responsibility to the states or private agencies when it comes to disaster relief in an effort to reduce federal spending and the deficit.
"Gov. Romney believes that states should be in charge of emergency management in responding to storms and other natural disasters in their jurisdictions," said Romney campaign spokesman Yohana de la Torre. "As the first responders, states are in the best position to aid affected individuals and communities, and to direct resources and assistance to where they are needed most. This includes help from the federal government and FEMA."
Link to Article: http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/Politics/romney-cut-fema-president/story?id=17589353
= new reply since forum marked as read
Pity the old Mitt
He'll never be any favorite of mine.
to accommodate this giant flush from the feds to the states. WHERE are the states supposed to get the money? Many of the states are deeply in the red already!
Nobody ever seems to bother pointing out that, wherever the government assistance comes from, to address the need that arises - across state lines in storms of this magnitude, and is far beyond what any one state can do for itself - THAT NEED IS STILL THERE!!!! AND IT STILL NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED!!!!
What is the matter with most of America?
and emergencies in New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania would be much better funded? Is that the way we want to do this? Works for me, because I live in a "net donor" to the federal government state, but I'm wondering how well this would go over with those from "net taker" (i.e. "red"
states.
I'm just suggesting that those who WANT the states to handle things would be in for a rude awakening if their wishes came true.
I'm in no way wishing that on the sane people who realize that the federal government can really be a plus when it comes to large-scale disaster relief (e.g.: James Lee Witt). No no no! My heart goes out to Dems in Red states (hey, our rightwing governor is trying his damndest to make PA a red state)
You'll laugh, but I was kayaking through rural southern NJ, and there was a sign on a tree in someone's backyard, facing the river. It said "I hear banjos. Paddle faster" Ha! Piney humor!
