Title : LET'S HOPE THE FLOOD AND TORNADO RAVAGED MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY FOLKS ARE PAYING ATTENTION
link : LET'S HOPE THE FLOOD AND TORNADO RAVAGED MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY FOLKS ARE PAYING ATTENTION
LET'S HOPE THE FLOOD AND TORNADO RAVAGED MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY FOLKS ARE PAYING ATTENTION
FOR SECOND TIME, ONE REPUBLICAN'S OBJECTION DELAYS DISASTER AID
By: Emily Cochrane
The New York Times
28 May 2019
WASHINGTON — A single House Republican again blocked final passage of a long-delayed emergency aid package, the second Republican in a week to use the power of an individual lawmaker to ensure the delay of relief for communities and farmers still recovering from natural disasters.
House Democrats tried for a second time on Tuesday to use a procedural vote to pass a Senate-approved $19.1 billion package while most lawmakers are spending a weeklong recess outside of Washington. But Representative Thomas Massie, Republican of Kentucky, used the power of a single lawmaker to object to the vote, pushing for the full chamber to be present to vote on legislation.
“If the speaker felt that this was must-pass legislation,” Mr. Massie said, “the speaker should have called a vote before sending members home.”
When Representative Sanford Bishop, Democrat of Georgia, tried a second time to bring up “an extension of the National Flood Insurance Program,” Mr. Massie objected a second time.
Without lawmakers in town, passage through the House would have to be unanimous. On Friday, Representative Chip Roy, a freshman Republican from Texas, postponed returning to his Texas district to prevent the package’s passage during an identical procedural vote, calling the maneuver “a very swampy thing to do.”
Like Mr. Roy, Mr. Massie outlined his concerns with the vote on the House floor, complaining about a vote during recess. Separately, Mr. Roy had also cited fiscal irresponsibility and the decision to leave out the White House’s request for about $4.5 billion for the southwestern border as reasons to take issue with the legislation.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, particularly those from states set to receive money, have fumed about the blockade of a relief bill that has faced numerous roadblocks on its month's long odyssey through Congress. Passage is all but certain when the full chamber returns next week.
“I urge my friends in this body not to object,” Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the majority leader, said before Mr. Massie’s objection. “This needs to be passed as soon as possible.”
Representative Nita Lowey of New York, chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, called the objection “heartless.”Meantime, farmers, military bases and other communities across the country continue to struggle in their efforts to recover from hurricanes, wildfires and floods over the last two years without the guarantee of federal aid. Tornadoes in the Midwest and record flooding in Oklahoma and Arkansas this week are only adding to the misery.
“The bill is going to be signed into law before the end of the first week of June,” Representative Austin Scott, Republican of Georgia, said in an interview last week after Mr. Roy’s objection. “Quite honestly, it’s a childish stunt.”
Mr. Massie, often a thorn in the side of House leadership regardless of party, lauded Mr. Roy’s decision to block the vote, calling the gesture“Hero level, over 9000” on Twitter.
“Whether you agree with the disaster relief bill or not, surely you acknowledge members of congress should be in town to vote on it,” Mr. Massie wrote, a sentiment he echoed on the House floor on Tuesday.House Democrats will likely try to bring the package to the floor for a vote again on Thursday, when the House briefly convenes again, which a single Republican can again block.
NOTE: Note that the Republican controlled Senate has already passed this bill. Why would anyone block passage in the House regardless of party affiliation? Oh, it doesn't include funds for Trump's Wall? Well, sorry, but people's homes and local business establishments being ripped to shreds by tornadoes and entire towns being left isolated and covered by flood waters seem to be of a different sort of "Disaster" than the construction of Trump's wall. This is "Disaster Aid" not funds for some local playground or new shopping center.
The "recess passage" which is why it requires the unanimous consent of all the Representatives present? Fine, dick around Republicans while your constituents have been made homeless. Great job.
I'm hopeful that the folks in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and Iowa remember this come next year and kick your dumb asses out of the House.
Take Care.
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