The Teapublicans have or have tried to gut the EPA, FEMA, NOAA, and just about every other agency who responds when disaster threatens or strikes... They ridicule the testing of tornado warning systems and they poo poo the need for volcano monitoring...They pussyfoot around with building or repairing levies...and people DIE because of their bullshit.
This diary may be short...I am trying to maintain my composure... I am so mad I could chew nails... Why?
Because Eric Cantor is using what happened in Joplin, MO to play politics with disaster and emergency management responses...
More on the flip...
From Think Progress:
Cantor Says Congress Won’t Pay For Missouri Disaster Relief Unless Spending Is Cut Elsewhere
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), however, said that before Congress approved federal funds for disaster relief, it had to offset the spending with cuts to other programs. The Washington Times reports:
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said Monday that if Congress passes an emergency spending bill to help Missouri’s tornado victims, the extra money will have to be cut from somewhere else.
“If there is support for a supplemental, it would be accompanied by support for having pay-fors to that supplemental,” Mr. Cantor, Virginia Republican, told reporters at the Capitol. The term “pay-fors” is used by lawmakers to signal cuts or tax increases used to pay for new spending.
I grew up in Tornado Alley. I have survived four tornadoes...including an F5...it led me to a career in safety, security and emergency management. For over 16 years I worked in emergency management, with a focus on hospitals...working for them to make sure that they were not only prepared to respond to disasters...but to help keep patients, employees and visitors safe too. What happened to the Joplin hospital is my worst nightmare...
A young graduate was sucked through the sun roof of his Hummer as his father watched...a baby was pulled from his mother's arms.... neither has been found... There are 118 people known dead... And Cantor wants to play politics and is only concerned about the money...
Heartless and cold... that is Eric Cantor in a nutshell.
Update: Thanks for the recs... I had to rant, but I didn't expect it to make the rec list... I am honored
4:24 PM PT: Update #2 - Wow...top of the list... I am truly humbled. I must go out for a while now...I hope to get back to read replies later...Again, thank you all.
9:22 PM PT: Again, thank you all for your recs and comments. I am signing off for the evening but I will check in early in the morning to respond to anything new... Good night all...and keep in mind, Oklahoma is getting hammered by storms tonight...keep them in your thoughts too. Those storms are wicked and heading right for Joplin... keep an eye on the sky folks...stay safe....goodnight.