Staff Reports
Biden is at it again, trying to pull the wool over Congress’s eyes with a cunning request for a whopping $100 billion in supplemental funding for disaster relief. It seems that the President believes throwing cash around will magically fix the ongoing chaos left in the wake of Hurricanes Milton and Helene. He sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson that proposes $40 billion to refill FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, along with an additional $2 billion for the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program. Because nothing says “I’ll take responsibility” like tossing taxpayer money into the wind.
In the aftermath of those hurricanes, Biden’s aides have been leaning heavily on Congress, proclaiming that without this cash, disaster recovery efforts could muddle into next year. They want everyone to know that this funding has bipartisan support. Never mind the fact that those bipartisan letters often feature a couple of Democrats ready to jump on any money train, hoping to look good while they’re at it. North Carolina lawmakers are clamoring for some of that cash too, but with a few RINOs on their side like Sens. Ossoff and Warnock, it’s hard to discern who’s really looking out for taxpayers in the long run.
Biden asks Congress for $100 billion in massive lame-duck disaster relief request ***Absolutely NOT! 😡
Source: WashingtonExaminer https://t.co/U2hxNlvaDQ— Rae Diallo (@rae_diallo) November 19, 2024
When word got out about the funding request, it became clear that getting these funds passed might not be as easy as Biden’s cheerleading team hopes. Many Republicans are raising eyebrows over FEMA’s historically questionable allocations, which seem starkly reminiscent of a high school fundraising bake sale where everyone’s hand is in the cookie jar. Last week, Sen. Tillis tried to sneak through some disaster relief funding on a unanimous consent basis, but the party came crashing down when Sen. Rand Paul single-handedly halted the train. Maybe next time they’ll just make cookies instead of asking for billions.
The Biden administration remains annoyingly optimistic, claiming there’s no room for political games when it comes to disaster relief, even as they face Republican scrutiny. Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget, tried to paint a rosy picture, insisting that relief should always transcend the red and blue divide. It’s heartwarming in theory, but if they spent more time focusing on effective management instead of sweeping problems under the rug, perhaps the community concerns wouldn’t feel so justified.
Adding to the drama, FEMA has blown through over $7.5 billion in the aftermath of these hurricanes, making this one of the costliest disaster recoveries in the past two decades. With a price tag like that, citizens might be wondering where all that money actually goes. Meanwhile, there is an internal investigation swirling around FEMA regarding claims made by a whistleblower stating that officials avoided contacting homes in Florida that sported Trump yard signs. So, while Biden is busy asking for funds, FEMA is dodging accountability. If this is the example of leadership Biden is setting, perhaps Texans would prefer to shovel mud and debris themselves rather than wait for the federal lifebuoy that may or may not show up.
