Eric Cantor Exploits Disaster, Pushing Budget Cuts

The No. 2 GOP leader in the House says additional funds for FEMA will have to be matched by budget cuts, and we know from past experience what that means: less funding for programs that assist the poor and elderly without a hope of raising taxes. Michael “Heckuva Job” Brown thinks it’s a good idea.

You remember Brownie from his tenure at FEMA. Unless he’s giving advice on how to let New Orleans drown and then resign, his is not the voice of reason.

FEMA revealed earlier that it is already scaling back its operations over funding concerns.

The Republican-led House has offered the agency $3.65 billion over the next two years—provided cuts are made elsewhere.  —PZS

Reuters:

Washington’s never-ending budget battle threatened to snarl the recovery from Hurricane Irene as a top Republican said on Monday that any federal aid will have to be offset by spending cuts elsewhere.

“Yes there’s a federal role, yes we’re going to find the money. We’re just going to make sure that there are savings elsewhere,” Representative Eric Cantor, the No. 2 Republican in the House of Representatives, told Fox News.

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FEMA News Photos / G. Mathieson