Will Republicans Oppose Disaster-Relief Funds After Hurricane Sandy?

by Eleanor Clift Oct 31, 2012 4:45 AM EDT

FEMA has money now, but if the hardest-hit states need more funds after their damage assessments, will congressional Republicans fight against disaster relief, as they did in the wake of Hurricane Irene? Eleanor Clift reports.

If you expect Congress to take some action in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, guess again.

A Democratic congressional aide says it’s unlikely the Hill will do so in the lame-duck session on one of the most damaging storms in modern history. Congress funded FEMA earlier in the year as part of a supplemental money bill, so the agency should have enough in the bank to deal with Sandy—for now.

The caveat, of course, is that damage assessments are just getting under way in the hardest-hit states, and more funds may be needed.

The congressional aide dismissed talk about the politics of disaster relief. “The last thing that Americans who suffered this devastation and are trying to rebuild their lives want to see is a political fight,” he said. “If more funds are needed, Congress should come together and act in a bipartisan fashion.”

Republicans opposed disaster relief that wasn’t paid for after Hurricane Irene battered much of the East Coast last year. Democrats hammered them for supporting tax cuts for the wealthy without such “pay-fors.” Recognizing they were losing the public-relations wars, Republicans backed off.

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http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/10/31/will-republicans-oppose-disaster-relief-funds-after-hurricane-sandy.html