Storms Show A System Out Of Balance (Lack of Congressional Oversight)

[UpInArms]

GOP Congress Has Reduced Usual Diet of Agency Oversight

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/04/AR2005100401426.html

Four hurricanes had hit Florida in 2004, and the evidence was overwhelming that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had totally botched its response. Some of the hardest-hit counties, complained Florida lawmakers, were overlooked, while other counties out of harm's way had received lavish relief -- to the tune of tens of millions of dollars, much of it for damage that could not be documented.

Republican Reps. Katherine Harris and Mark Foley, along with other members of the Florida delegation, asked the two House committees with FEMA jurisdiction to hold hearings on what went wrong. "This, of course, is not just a Florida issue," the lawmakers wrote the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on March 3. "FEMA disaster assistance affects virtually every state."

The Florida debacle revealed serious deficiencies in FEMA operations and management, but when hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit six months later, the committees still had not acted on the delegation's request.

It was a typical response for a Congress that has had little appetite in recent years for executive branch oversight. And now, as lawmakers probe FEMA's mistakes in responding to Katrina, they are waking up to the consequences of neglect.

...more...

These GOPpigs do not waiver from their support of the idiotsonofanutjob and refuse to represent their constituents or uphold the Constitution.

[Ripley]

1. That could also refer to the Earth's System (Out of Balance)

Mother Nature is PISSED!

I love this part: And now, as lawmakers probe FEMA's mistakes in responding to Katrina, they are waking up to the consequences of neglect.

neglect neglect neglect neglect!!!

Wouldn't it be great if it were true? (the part about them waking up, that is)

[Bridget Burke]

2. Political Science 101: Balance of Powers

Although I first encountered the concept in Jr High & High School Government classes.

Things have gotten a bit confusing since the Judicial Branch named the head of the Executive Branch.

Maybe it's time for a refesher course.

[struggle4progress]

3. kick

[mom cat]

4. Nominated..note Miami-Dade connection to FEMA overpayments.

Collins called a hearing before her Senate panel in May on FEMA and the Florida hurricanes, and it proved to be a zinger. Her star witness was Richard L. Skinner, acting inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security, who had audited FEMA's Florida activities and found that abuses in Miami-Dade County were particularly egregious.
Due to what Skinner called "very serious systemic weaknesses," nearly 12,600 Miami-Dade residents collected more than $31 million in payments after Hurricane Frances, although the storm hit about 100 miles to the north. The money paid for homes and cars that were not damaged, and even for funerals, when Miami-Dade reported no storm-related deaths.
Testifying then for FEMA was Brown. He conceded problems in "very marginal cases" and called Skinner "just wrong" about other findings.