I think it is totally reasonable and proper to use federal funds to get people back on their feet. But that is where the line has to be drawn. Repairing infrastructure in city and state road, bridges, etc. are the responsibilities of the cities and states. They take a lot of tax money and it really is their problem. It is totally WRONG to reimburse home or business owners for uninsured damage they had when insurance could have been purchased. If not, what is the point of people insuring themselves anyway?
Finally, the bulk of the money seems to be going to develop an infrastructure to prevent flooding from occurring again. I would bet this is to be a levee around the NY/NJ seaport area - likely $50B of the $60B requested. For the federal government to pay for this is absurd - especially in our deficit-riddled financial times. That is akin to having the federal government retrofit the entire San Francisco Bay area for earthquake safety. All of these things would be nice. But the $60B requested is about as much as the whole tax increase on the 2% would bring in during a year. I thought we were trying to control expenses?!
60 billion dollars? where did a figure like this come from? Did they pull it from a hat?. Don't forget that many households had house insurance that will help them rebuild. Any wonder that we are so far in debt. This is just a crazy number!
I believe they were estimates from Gov. Cuomo and Gov. Christie. There are people there still without electricity and several states sent their electicians there to help rewire New York and NJ! That probably cost a bundle right there! Not to mention, as the article did how many homes and businesses were damaged! Yes, some probably have house insurance but insurance companies try to cheat you on how much they will cover just like the Repugs! They also had extensive infrastructure damage to the subway, bridges and railroad stations! Just give em the money! It's not like giving tax cuts to wealthy people who don't need them!
I'd say give them the aid, but conditional on repealing unconstitutional state gun control laws and pardoning anyone sentenced under such. Aid if for free people, not serfs, and New York and New Jersey need to get that point.
RZARC2 says: Since we pay out more then we ever get (NJ gets back only 55 cents for every dollars paid in Fed taxes) I would say it's about time for the country (especially the red states) to pony up to help out NJ/NY for a change.
It is quite ironic how much more federal money the red welfare states get while the blue states continue to subsidize them, and the big whiners about government and spending are clearly in the southern welfare states.
What? President Barack Obama is asking Congress for $60.4 billion in federal aid for New York, New Jersey and other states hit by Superstorm Sandy, and not just SPENDING that money like republicans keep telling us every day?
Oh, that's right, president's have no authority to spend -- only Congress does!
You want to raise that much money Mr. President? Increase that gas tax in those states by 5 cents and 0.5 cents for the rest of the country. Problem solved.
I would agree with that type of thinking if the southern red welfare states had raised their taxes in order to pay for their hurricane damages, but they did not, and the federal government came through with tens of billions of dollars.
2B in actual damages 2.4B to cover folks who chose not to carry insurance 1B to agencies verifying damages 55B gift to NY for deferred infrastructure repairs that had nothing to do with the weather.
Oh, Payasyougo, The new york subway was extensively damaged and so were many bridges and railroad stations, so why shouldn't the fema funds pay for that too? It did have to do with the weather!They were completely under water from Hurricane Sandy idiot! You sound like a Republican!
I agree 100%. It makes no sense for me to carry (read that as "pay") flood insurance and earthquake insurance....I can save all those $$$ cuz if a disaster hits me, the Feds will pay. These people, the state, the cities, etc. should have carried their own insurance for disasters. This is a bailout for the insurance companies too, as now they can reduce their payouts. They should have built their sea wall years ago, but chose to pay their politicians instead. I neither expect, nor want, the Feds or the State to come to my assistance. I will expect my insurance adjuster, though, if/when the time comes.
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Finally, the bulk of the money seems to be going to develop an infrastructure to prevent flooding from occurring again. I would bet this is to be a levee around the NY/NJ seaport area - likely $50B of the $60B requested. For the federal government to pay for this is absurd - especially in our deficit-riddled financial times. That is akin to having the federal government retrofit the entire San Francisco Bay area for earthquake safety. All of these things would be nice. But the $60B requested is about as much as the whole tax increase on the 2% would bring in during a year. I thought we were trying to control expenses?!
It is quite ironic how much more federal money the red welfare states get while the blue states continue to subsidize them, and the big whiners about government and spending are clearly in the southern welfare states.
Oh, that's right, president's have no authority to spend -- only Congress does!
2B in actual damages
2.4B to cover folks who chose not to carry insurance
1B to agencies verifying damages
55B gift to NY for deferred infrastructure repairs that had nothing to do with the weather.
They should have built their sea wall years ago, but chose to pay their politicians instead. I neither expect, nor want, the Feds or the State to come to my assistance. I will expect my insurance adjuster, though, if/when the time comes.