Due, in my opinion, to an increase in extreme weather occasioned by global climate change, FEMA is running out of money and no longer has sufficient funds to meet all of it’s obligations to help Americans survive and recover from natural disasters. With Ron Paul campaigning to do away with FEMA, and the Republican leadership in Congress declaring that all disaster relief must be offset by spending cuts, we need to look for a better way to get the revenue FEMA needs than taking it from America’s neediest citizens.
With less than $1 billion currently available for federal disaster assistance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is temporarily suspending payments to rebuild roads, schools and other structures destroyed during spring tornadoes in Joplin, Mo. and southern states in order to pay for damage caused by Hurricane Irene.
FEMA will still pay people eligible for individual storm assistance and some states recouping emergency response costs from previous disasters. But the agency said it will place restrictions on paying for older longer-term public rebuilding and mitigation projects in order to ensure the solvency of the federal disaster relief fund, which pays for emergency management costs and public rebuilding projects.
The decision affects the spring tornadoes and disasters dating back several years and “prioritizes the immediate, urgent needs of survivors and states when preparing for or responding to a disaster,” said FEMA spokeswoman Rachel Racusen… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Washington Post>
In my view, only one solution fits the picture perfectly. Since fossil fuel use is the single biggest contributor to global climate change, thereby exacerbating the extreme weather, it is the last thing America should subsidize. The best solution is to bring corporate welfare for the oil, gas and coal industries to an end and use the money saved by eliminating fossil fuel subsidies to fund FEMA and to subsidize the development and implementation of green energy. To make this possible, Republicans must be removed from office to the extent that they no longer have the power to block what America needs to survive.
12 Responses to “FEMA’s Budget Shortfall”
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In addition to removing the subsidies to the oil/gas/coal companies to help offset their contribution to global climate change, taxing their profits with a specific disaster relief or climate change tax could also help to fund FEMA. Just a thought
And a most excellent thought it is!
Everyone wants to stop those subsidy’s and give-a-ways to the fossil fuel industry and every other loophole and subsidy of any real value and everybody already has claimed dibs on those claw backs. Need money? Raise taxes, on everybody and re-institute the windfall profits tax especially on BIg Pharma and oil. But seeing as how it only takes one senator to obstruct any or all legislation I doubt very seriously there will ever be a one color chamber in both sides.
No. not funding FEMA is just a part of the plan to make $9 an hour look good and to get to the real goal where Americans are killing Americans. They will say “Shame on you if you didn’t buy from the insurance industry enough insurance to cover this or that disaster.” to bad, your fault the federal government is not in the business of making your house habitable, roads drivable, bridges safe, water drinkable, not when the free market can do it so much better and cheaper.
Mark, even though that would raise my taxes by 50%, which you know I cannot afford, I would prefer that to this.
All this going on– is like watching a disaster move !! Little Susie tied to the railroad tracks with the train bearing down-!!
And Snideley Whiplash is a Republican.
Ly nn, I LOVE YOUR iDEA! Not only take away their subsidies, but set aside billions more to help out with the clean up and rebuilding. However, the oldest disaster should be taken care of first and then the newer disasters. Think of of all the jobs that would create! Brilliant, Lynn, just brilliant! 😯 😎
Me too.
No FEMA aid to any state whose representatives are demanding cuts to fund the aid. Let them cut their own throats first and see how they like it. I’m fed up with the idiots. If they keep at it, make sure you have an up-to-date passport and some gold stashed away. Well, I won’t have the gold. Only a nitwit would keep buying gold at the current outrageous prices. Contemplating little worn jewelry right now.
Marva, I agree. I have proposed cutting off funding for all programs to all states, whose elected representatives oppose those programs for ages.
Back in 2004 when Tropical Storm Gaston hit Richmond, VA and Cantor was busy asking for Federal funds – Cantor did NOT say that they had to be offset by any type of spending cuts:
http://politicalcorrection.org/blog/201108290005
He still wants them, Nameless. He just wants to kill funding for more fuel efficient autos to fund Virginia’s relief.