House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) says no aid for Joplin without cuts May 24th, 2011 12:28 pm ET Ryan Witt Political Buzz The horrific tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri may have also created a political battle in Washington D.C. The death toll from the tornado now stands at 119, making it the single deadliest tornado since modern record-keeping began 60 years ago. The financial toll is also expected to be high, with initial estimates putting damages at around $3 billion. Without significant aid from somewhere Joplin will simply not be able to recover from a tornado that literally ripped the town in half. Today House Majority Leader Eric Cantor signaled that the Congress may not be willing to provide aid without accompanying spending cuts to other programs. Today President Obama pledged to provide "every ounce" of federal resources to helping the victims in Joplin. Thus far FEMA has been on the scene to help with rescue operations. However, in the long-term the President would likely need congressional approval in order to provide a package of financial aid. Any aid package would have to pass through the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where Cantor serves in a powerful leadership position. As the Washington Times reports, Cantor said any aid would need to be offset by other spending cuts, "If there is support for a supplemental, it would be accompanied by support for having pay-fors to that supplemental." The term "pay-fors" means either spending cuts or tax increases, and the Republicans have firmly stated that they would not pass any tax increases this year. The Washington Times also points out that six years then-House Majority Leader Tom Delay approved Hurricane Katrina aid without offsetting spending cuts. At the time Delay said it was acceptable to just add the Katrina aid on to the deficit. These are the same people that refuse to do away with subsidies for the most profitable companies in the entire world.
Let's end all operations in Libya and Iraq and begin the withdrawal from Afghanistan. That should easily pay for it many, many, many times over. Or cut all aid to Israel. That would pay for it in one fell swoop. I am more interested in helping the folks in Missouri than those in some foreign country. Or implement a 1 time tax of 10 dollars per person for 2011. That would pay for it too. Or mix and match any of the above. $5 tax and half Israel's aid, etc
It's never a good idea to politicize a catastrophe, he should have known better. It's only been a day and a half since it hit, they haven't even found all the bodies yet. Unbelievable insensitivity. Fiscal responsibility is one thing, but his remarks are obscene this soon after such an awful event.
I don't think you understand that Obama can no longer borrow any money. The debt limit has been reached. Joplin will get their money, but it will have to come from another fund, that's all.
I don't either but I don't owe Israel anything either. Nor Iraq or Afghanistan or Libya. So if it is a matter of reallocating money that is already in a budget, I'd much rather it stay in the US. And that would be my solution if we are going to spend the money on Missouri anyway... as opposed to a tax increase. And the money in the budget will be spent. I have never been at a government agency where excess funds were returned at the end of the year.
