Storm in Congress over Irene clean-up bill
As the clean-up continues in the wake of Hurricane Irene, US politicians are battling over how federal funds should be spent to help victims.
It is one of the most expensive disasters in US history – wreaking damage estimated at more than $10 billion. President Obama has now declared Hurricane Irene a “major federal disaster” – thus freeing up national funding to help the relief effort.
But it is not as simple as handing over cash to the states worst hit by the high winds and widespread flooding. A political row has broken out over who will pay – with Republicans arguing for federal budget cuts to offset the costs of disaster relief. House leader Eric Cantor has declared that although the cash will be made available – with such a huge deficit to tackle, the era of the open chequebook is over.
“Just like any family would operate when it’s struck with disaster”, he said, Congress must “make sure there are savings elsewhere”.
For Senator Bernie Saunders, whose Vermont seat was hit by its worst flooding for more than 40 years – that kind of sentiment is anathema.
Instead of coming together to provide relief for those who need it, congressional leaders are holding emergency victims hostage in order to pursue a narrow ideological agenda. Tim Kaine, Virginia governor
“To say that the only way you can come up with funding to rebuild devastated communities is to cut back on other desperately needed programs is totally absurd.” he told the New York Times. “Historically in this country, we have understood that when communities and states experience disasters, we as a nation come together to address those.”
Andrew Cuomo, New York’s governor, estimated the storm had caused $1bn damage – including six towns inundated, tens of thousands of hectares of farmland ruined, and roads and bridges in urgent need of repair. “We need help on the economics”, he said. “These are not communities of deep pockets.”
But while those communities will now be eligible for federal funds, the US disaster relief agency Fema is struggling with a $5 billion budget shortfall of its own – at a time when the deal over the debt ceiling limit means spending cuts on all federal agencies worth some $7 billion in 2012. At the moment, Fema has pledged to bear the costs of Irene: “Our immediate focus is to… meet the immediate needs of disaster survivors, and we have the resources to do this.”
Photo gallery: Hurricane Irene batters the US east coast
Next week, though, Congress must start setting a new budget for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes Fema – and Eric Cantor has already warned “those monies are not unlimited”. On the other side – Virginia governor Tim Kaine has complained that after his state was hit by an earthquake as well as a hurricane inside a week, “instead of coming together to provide relief for those who need it, congressional leaders are holding emergency victims hostage in order to pursue a narrow ideological agenda”.
Who will tighten their belt to pay for this hurricane damage? Families, or government? Jeb Hensarling, Republican congressman
Back in 2004, though, the issue wasn’t quite so clear cut. In the wake of five hurricanes and tropical storms, Republican congressman from Texas, Jeb Hensarling, put forward a motion to offset disaster aid by reducing discretionary funding elsewhere. “Who will tighten their belt to pay for this… hurricane damage? Families, or government? I vote for the government.” he declared.
And who should vote against that amendment but Eric Cantor.
His spokesman, Brad Dayspring, argues that the difference today is the sheer size of America’s deficit – now standing at more than $14,500 trillion.
But the communities struggling to rebuild homes and livelihoods just want help, not a political debate.
If Fema’s current funding gap isn’t resolved by October 1st, the end of the fiscal year, states could see their emergency aid suddenly cut off, which would not go down well with supporters of either party.
As Professor Stephen Farnsworth told the Washington Times: “Voters tend to be operational liberals and theoretical conservatives. Small government is a great idea, until you’re expecting something from the government.”
Felicity Spector is a chief sub-editor at Channel 4 News. Follow her on Twitter @FelicitySpector.