Florida Congressman Greg Steube, who voted no last week on the continuing resolution to keep the Federal Government operating into the next fiscal year, a bill that included funds for Hurricane Ian relief, is now accusing President Biden of withholding funding.
“As Southwest Florida digs out from Hurricane Ian, its representatives in Congress voted to shut down the federal government that is aiding the devastated region.
Reps. Byron Donalds (R-19-Fla.), Greg Steube (R-17-Fla.) and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-15-Fla.) all voted against the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2023 (House Resolution (HR) 6833), which kept the government operating for the next fiscal year…
“… The bill includes $18.8 billion in spending for disaster recovery efforts. In addition to Florida’s needs, it funds efforts for Western wildfires and flooding in Kentucky.
The bill also funds the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is assisting hard-hit Southwest Florida. The region sustained what is likely to be many billions of dollars in damages from the direct strike from the Category 4 hurricane.
Charlotte and Sarasota counties in Steube’s 17th District were especially devastated.”
No shame.
Is this yet another thing these crooks are going to lie about???? pic.twitter.com/K5VOiSJIf7
— One More D8 🌊🌊🌊🌊 (@OneMoreD8) October 3, 2022
Where are the Swamp People guys when you need ‘em?
— foster jake 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@FosterJake_) October 2, 2022
Yup
👇👇👇
Congress acted. Senator Scott voted against and Rubio didn’t even show up to vote. And all 16 #FloriDUH #RepubliQan members of Congress voted AGAINST that funding! But please, tell me more about how Congress needs to act!
— Toxic Avenger (@ToxicAv36338995) October 2, 2022
— BartGuitar ☮️🇺🇸🎸 (@BartGuitar5150) October 2, 2022
That’s all they do!
He just voted against it pic.twitter.com/rs6QgoJhRL
— Erik Halvorsen (@erikhalvorsen18) October 2, 2022
Yup
👇👇👇
Is that the letter asking Biden to hand over 10 billion dollars to DeSantis with no oversight?
— Devi L Woman (@NamowLived) October 3, 2022
DeSantis said they had a surplus of cash. Why not ask him? https://t.co/YmCcXDORnJ
— Jacob Redman (@CBJacob1) October 2, 2022
Yup
He wants help? pic.twitter.com/Q424jpIF5F
— It’s me again (@BlueDogsGuitar) October 2, 2022
🤣🤣🤣
Odd that I haven't heard any mention of bootstraps.
— A Ghost Trapped In A Meat Puppet ☮ (@GojiraRoar) October 3, 2022
🙌 🙌 🙌
WTF is a “Major Disaster Declaration Letter”?
— TenaciousEye (@TenaciousEye) October 3, 2022
Something Steube pulled outta his ass?
The point is to just blatantly lie because they know their media echo chamber will pound that same drum & the truth will get drowned out, that's why America is in the trouble it's in now, the GOP has America fast heading down the same road as Bolsonaro in Brazil.
— Dachshund Lover (@DachshundLove17) October 3, 2022
Yup
All the Republican congressmen and senators from Florida voted no on the funding. Let’s respect their feelings and not give them funding
— James Royse (@realpostaljim) October 3, 2022
That’s not fair to the people of Florida, but man, I understand the sentiment.
Today’s GOP… no truth, no honor and absolutely no shame.
Believe it or not, this shocked me! I thought I was acquiring a thick skin.
Call me naive, but governing (like teaching) is a calling and an honor that these miserable degenerates have besmirched with their Clockwork Orange antics. Like the seditionists who smeared their feces on the marbled walls in our Capitol building.
No respect, no reverence.
What a dumbass! Being a FloridDUH! GOP Congress Critter I guess I shouldn’t be surprised he doesn’t know shit about State and Federal Disaster agencies and how the process works with both. Now, as a Congress Critter who represents an area hard hit by Ian I’d expect a letter from his Office to the President asking that all manner of assistance possible be not just sent, but expedited. That’s what Congress Critters are supposed to do. And even if such a letter were to contain inappropriate stuff like “cause when we take over the House I’ll be leading the charge to investigate every dollar your administration might have held back” THIS President would still make every effort to help. And demand the same of FEMA and other agencies that can support FEMA in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.
Here’s the thing though – a Congress Critter has NO statutory authority to issue a State level Disaster Declaration OR make a formal request to the President to authorize a federal one and active FEMA to work with a given state. THAT power, the power to request a President issue a formal Disaster Declaration for a county/counties in their state is vested in the Governor of a State!
There’s an actual federal statute that lays all of this out, and formal procedures that have been honed in over forty years of practice. Oh, and for certain folks including one in particular who want to know how I know this? I did two stints with FEMA in the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons and aftermath. In 2004 like over a thousand people in three sites around the country I was initially hired on as a temp. Over time I was one of forty in my NSPC to be selected to become actual federal Disaster Temporary Employees of FEMA. That meant a whole new set of training beyond the taking of applications and helpline work I’d received. I had to get certified on a variety of stuff including the laws that govern how all of this state and federal coordination happens. So there. Yes I do know what the fuck I’m talking about!
ISTR that Biden did the disaster declaration before it even hit Florida. Maybe Steube slept through that part of the news. Or maybe he only watches Fox and the far-right media.
Denis,
Your experience is a boon for the rest of us. Thanks for the insight.
I see this often, where commenters go off on a rant and ineffectively aim their blame in the wrong direction. I.e., “Biden is to blame for high gas prices, inflation, etc.” which feeds into their muddled paranoia.
The law and the structure of government in a country as large and multifaceted as ours, is a minefield for the undereducated and emotionally-based citizens.