Conservatives Want to Slash FEMA's Disaster Budget

[Jimbo101]

Motherjones

One of the worst winter tornado outbreaks in US history ravaged parts of the South last month, leveling homes and buildings and killing at least 20 people across Mississippi and Georgia. In total, 79 tornadoes ripped through seven states. Last week, seven tornadoes touched down in southern Louisiana, injuring 41 people. As officials and residents dug through the rubble, affected states began requesting aid from the federal government, standard practice in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Reconstruction is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars. But if an influential conservative think tank gets its way, federal funding for future disasters may be cut sharply—even as disasters themselves become more frequent.

The proposal to cut disaster aid was part of a lengthy report released last year by the Heritage Foundation. Dubbed a Blueprint for Balance, the document argued that the federal government can save $10.5 trillion over the next decade by slashing funds for some programs and eliminating others. The blueprint calls for a funding cut for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Relief Fund, the primary mechanism through which states receive federal aid after natural disasters. It would shift the majority of the costs to state and local governments.

The Heritage Foundation is extremely influential in the world of conservative politics, and the Trump administration appears ready to lean on the think tank for policy ideas. Donald Trump's transition team was stacked with advisers from Heritage, and the organization helped the president compile a list of potential Supreme Court picks. The Hill reported in January that a series of massive budget cuts being considered by the Trump administration "hew closely" to the Heritage budget blueprint.

[FBaggins]

1. That makes sense

Trump says that there won't be any emergencies in the next right years.

[IdiotsforPalin]

2. Then the red states

better not come whining when disasters hit. Hear that OK, FL, Gulf Coast, TX.

[meadowlark5]

3. Red states are the ones hit hardest by severe weather, year after year

That's nice that the republicans are taking such good care of those very voters who supported the dump.

But then again, they don't work for the people, they work for their high paying owners.

[NurseJackie]

4. Good! Let them who supported Trump suffer the most.

[democratisphere]

5. republiCONs must have a vacuum between their ears!

[crazycatlady]

6. Am I wrong for wanting a disaster to hit Paul Ryan's district?

[Initech]

7. Fuck the Heritage Foundation!

Evil, evil bastards! I live in California. Gutting FEMA scares the shit out of me! I'm convinced that if a natural disaster like a colossal earthquake or firestorm were to hit (which I've been through and survived), or a nuclear strike were to happen, the conservative scumbags would let us die than give us what we need to survive. Fuck these god damn assholes!

[coco22]

8. They think they will be protected..

in underground bunkers or are they planning on leaving planet earth.

[oasis]

9. Billions for Trump's wall. Priorities.