Rep. Jeff Flake Voted Against Emergency Relief for Katrina Victims

[lady lib]

Flake votes against hurricane relief bill

Billy House
Republic Washington Bureau
Sept. 9, 2005 12:00 AM

WASHINGTON - Rep. Jeff Flake was among just 11 members of Congress on Thursday to vote against $51.8 billion in emergency relief for victims of Hurricane Katrina, prompting criticism from a fellow GOP congressman from Arizona.

Flake was the only one of eight Arizona House members to oppose the spending bill, which passed 410-11, with overwhelming bipartisan support. The Senate later passed the measure 97-0, with both Arizona GOP Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl voting in favor of it. The bill now goes to President Bush for his signature.

"If this kind of a natural disaster or a disaster involving weapons of mass destruction happened in his (Flake's) district, he'd be singing a different tune," Rep. Rick Renzi said of his colleague.

-snip-

(Rep. Trent Franks says) "I am convinced that he has a deep, abiding compassion for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

-snip-

Flake was one of 11 House members (8 were from AZ!) to vote AGAINST the spending bill - presumably to show his deep and abiding concern for fiscal responsibility. That's our Jeffy. :thumbsdown:

LINK
http://www.azcentral.com/php-bin/clicktrack/print.php?referer=http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0909katrina-nopork19.html

[still_one]

1. my question would be, how did he vote on iraq?

in other words, was he for giving aid to iraq over his own American citizens?

[Wheezy]

2. This is why we need to get our new residents registered to vote.

This still makes me livid, every time I think about it. Excuse me, Arizona reps, but the Colluseum is paging you. There are 1000 people there who would like you to tell them just what you've done.

BASTARDS!

I sent Janet an email re: registering to vote. The whole pathetic process took me 8 weeks and two trips to the Dept of Transportation to get registered when we moved here in December. And I had ID! We need to get these folks registered to vote, and we need to do it now, because this process is rediculously stupid. Thanks to either Homeland Security or the Patriot Act.

BASTARDS! I say again.

{/rant}

[Bradley Minoski]

3. Flake is a idiot then...

For voting nay for the hurricane relief bill.

But I still kind of like him because when the house was debateing the U.N reform bill, Flake made a admendment on the bill banning dipamatic immunity of u.n ambaddadors.

I like flake for that cause i hated the dipamatic immunity rule

[jillan]

4. Here comes the debate. I am proud that Flake did this.

The one thing about Flake that I do like, is that he is always, always trying to hold the government accountable for all of their pork. IMO he is fighting for us. He wants accountability for where our money is going. And I appreciate that.

The reason he voted against this bill has little to do with helping the victims of Katrina, and in re-building NOLA. He voted against it because he doesn't understand how we can give FEMA $50 billion, without an oversight committee. FEMA hasn't proven that they are capable of much, much less an open checkbook.

Look at what has happened in Iraq with all the money that has just disappeared.

Look at that new transportation bill, where millions of dollars are going to build a bridge in Alaska.

Even tho Flake is a repug, I have to say thank you to him for always standing up and demanding fiscal discipline. Too bad he is just a lonely voice trying to demand this from the gov't.

[t73rvo]

5. NOT SO FAST...

Really?
Well, if in fact he truly cared about people why would he immediately ask Bush to suspend Davis-Bacon claiming it will increase the price of rebuilding efforts in Katrina, while failing to discuss the price that no-bid billion dollar contracts given to Bechtel, Halliburton, KBR and a few well connected corrupt multi-national corporations will have on rebuilding effort?
How obvious does it have to be that companies with extensive histories of misappropriation of government funds, lawsuits by the department of justice, SEC, etc., and blatant cronyism may be more appropriate to SUSPEND then the Davis-Bacon act!
Congressman like Flake are more dangerous then the truly corrupt ones because he allows them to destroy our country by diverting our attention and throwing us scraps! I plan on assuring he no longer represents Congressional district 6 if it means knocking on my neighbor doors!