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REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS
Oklah. GOP Senator takes own constituents hostage, demands budget cuts or no tornado aid
Tuesday, May 21, 2013 7:27 AM
NIKI2
Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...
Quote:You have to give Oklahoma Republican US Senator Tom Coburn high marks for consistency, if not compassion. In the face of a major tornado disaster in his home state, that has taken the lives of 24 Oklahomans (now 51, and rising), including at least 9 children in a devastated elementary school, Coburn says he won’t support disaster relief for his home state unless the budget is cut elsewhere. Yes, Coburn is taking his own constituents hostage as budget-cutting human shields. It’s not the first time Coburn has taken hostages. Last winter, Coburn joined Oklahoma’s other far-right GOP Senator, Jim Inhofe, in voting against the Hurricane Sandy relief bill. It’s systematic of the larger problem the Republican party is having at the national level. They just don’t like people. And it’s starting to show. One thing is clear, this isn’t about the deficit. How many Republicans asked for our wars to be paid for up front? Show of hands, don’t be shy. Republicans don’t really care about spending money like a (or for a) drunken sailor, so long as it’s for tax cuts and the Defense Department. Then after their years of massive spending bankrupt us – like Reagan did, and then Bush II – suddenly the Republicans are deficit hawks, asking us to cut all of our programs while leaving theirs in tact. We wouldn’t need to be holding a back sale every time Mother Nature hiccupped if the Republicans would stop spending a trillion on this war and another trillion on that tax cut. http://americablog.com/2013/05/oklahoma-senator-coburn-says-no-tornado-aid-unless-cost-is-offset.html]
Quote:What is interesting is that both Coburn and Inhofe have petitioned the Fed for disaster relief money. Back in January of 2007, Coburn was insistent about funding after an ice storm. The following year, Inhofe was singing the praises of the Department of Housing and Urban Development when they gave disaster funds to 24 Oklahoma counties in the wake of severe weather. Maybe the fact that there is now a Democrat in the White House is what’s changing their tune, eh? Oklahoma is no stranger to disaster nor to federal aid for the same. The state ranks third behind Texas and California in total federal disaster and fire declarations, which is the precursor for receiving federal relief funds. In fact, President Obama just signed a declaration last month for Oklahoma’s severe snow storms. The costs for this tornado will likely be very high – a similar event in 1999 drew $67.8 million dollars in relief funds. The ugly thing about this time – besides the destruction and loss – may be that even more programs for the elderly, disabled and children will be attacked in order to quell the stupid and selfish calls for offsets. When that happens, even more people will suffer. Haven’t we had enough of that? http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/21/no-oklahoma-tornado-relief-without-cuts-elsewhere-says-republican/#ixzz2TwpYSdsB]
Quote:It should come as no surprise to anyone that 71% of the national debt happened under Republican presidents. The NYT has a wonderful chart making it crystal clear just how much damage the Republicans have caused to the deficit – note how much damage George W. Bush caused all by his lonesome:
Tuesday, May 21, 2013 5:10 PM
1KIKI
Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013 5:26 PM
Wednesday, May 22, 2013 4:10 AM
NEWOLDBROWNCOAT
Quote: (CNN) - Facing questions on his position about federal disaster aid Tuesday, Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma confirmed he would want to offset any relief money with cuts to other parts of the budget but quickly added now was not the time do be discussing such matters. "It's insensitive to even talk about it now," Coburn said in an exclusive interview with CNN's Chief Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash on Capitol Hill. "It just shows the crassness of Washington versus the sensitivity that we need to have." ... Earlier this year Coburn and fellow Republican Sen. James Inhofe were two of 36 senators who voted against a large chunk of the massive federal relief bill for Superstorm Sandy, citing concerns about the hefty price tag. ... Inhofe told CNN he thinks it's possible Congress may not even have to pass a new funding bill, because FEMA may have enough funds in its existing budget to take care of relief and recovery in his state. "We wouldn't need an additional appropriations bill. Everything's in place right now," Inhofe told CNN, though he quickly added his assessment could change after he gets to Oklahoma. "We do have both individual and public assistance already approved. [Oklahoma Governor] Mary Fallin called in yesterday and obviously we, we qualify for everything, any type of emergency funding."
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