WH regarding Kansas: Bush has made money available for purchasing heavy equipment from contractors

[sabra]

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_theswamp/2007/05/gov_guard_isnt__1.html#more

Tony Snow, the White House press secretary, said today that the White House is attempting to avoid a "political'' debate with the governor.

"As far as we know, the only thing the governor has requested is FM radios… I believe she has them,'' Snow said. "As part of the disaster declaration, the president immediately made available money for heavy equipment'' from contractors.

"We know the governor has been saying this kind of stuff, but from our understanding, she hasn’t requested any equipment,'' Snow said. "We are eager to provide whatever Kansas needs…

...

Sebelius, a Democrat, has written to the Pentagon twice and spoke about the issue at great length with Bush in January 2006 when they rode together from Topeka to a lecture in Manhattan.

"He assured me that he had additional equipment in his budget a year ago.'' She said. "What the Defense Department said then and continues to say is that states will get about 90 percent of what they had," Sebelius said. "Meanwhile, it doesn't get any better. I'm at a loss."

[leftyladyfrommo]

1. Jeesh! If all the equpment wasn't in Iraq Kansas could have

handled this emergency on its own.

Kansas doesn't need equipment from contractors - they just need their own equipment back. Which probably isn't going to happen because it will all be completely worn out from being used in the desert sand.

[sabra]

2. and who are these "contractors" - and how much are they charging?

[magellan]

7. That's the question. Is Kansas expected to pay for this equipment?

[leftyladyfrommo]

8. I don't know - but my guess would be "yes." n/t

[april]

4. is the equipment coming from Halliburton?

[leftyladyfrommo]

5. That would be my guess. n/t

[Neecy]

3. They're trying to Blanco her

Sebelius needs to hit back hard on this today, or they'll be successful.

What she WANTED was to have her own guard equipment staged in various points in Kansas - like before Bush's war - available immediately upon an emergency. Having to scrap around for heavy trucks and equipment AFTER the fact isn't terribly helpful. And it doesn't address the loss of the KNG's helicopters, which might have been helpful given this weeks' flooding in her state.

And this IS a political debate, whether Snow wants it to be or not.

[leftyladyfrommo]

6. Sibelius is a really good, very popular governor.

And she is a real straight shooter. They are going to have trouble trying to make her look bad.

[Botany]

9. buying new stuff or hiring contrators is not the same .....

..... as having the equipment and people ready to go when you need it.

Tony Snow, the White House press secretary, said today that the White House is attempting to avoid a
"political'' debate with the governor.

Nothing political about it ... the equipment was not there when needed and the President promised
that he would have it there after the Governor asked him about it.

Impeach his ass now.

[leftyladyfrommo]

10. Yea. I don't think the WH better take on Sibelius.

That whole topic is pretty sensitive and they will just look awful - and they must know that.

[Botany]

12. This must be hot cause bush is going there tomorrow.

Bush soooo needs impeached.

[Bandit]

11. Leave it to Bush* to find a way to make some money off Disaster

:shrug:

[lpbk2713]

13. No doubt from an *approved* list of contractors

.... contractors who they know to be heavy RNC contributors.