Jeb Bush suggests federal government not crucial to storm recovery

[seafan]

Covering for his pal Mitt again, who wants to 'get rid of FEMA'.


Justin Sink reports at The Hill:

October 31, 2012

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush might have been looking to subtly undermine any polling bounce President Obama might receive for his handling of Hurricane Sandy, telling supporters at a campaign event in Tampa Wednesday that the efforts of local officials were the most crucial part of storm recovery.

"My experience in all this emergency response business is that it is the local level and the state level that really matters," Bush said. "That if they do their job right, the federal government part works out pretty good."

The comment came as the former Florida governor was introducing Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who was officially returning to the campaign trail for the first time since the storm hit. He and running mate Paul Ryan had temporarily suspended their campaign Monday afternoon as the storm began battering the Eastern seaboard.

.....

Hat tip to the author of one of the comments at the link, 'Lee E', for this photograph of Governor Jeb Bush happily looking on as Michael "Heckuvajob" Brownie presents a nice post-hurricane FEMA check to the state of Florida.






We in Florida haven't forgotten how Jeb Bush "helpfully" steered FEMA money to parts of Miami Dade in southern Florida, that were surprisingly little affected by Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in September, 2004. But there was a presidential election a couple months after that, don'tchaknow ....

Audit scolds FEMA over payments, May 14, 2005

Miami-Dade County residents collected Hurricane Frances aid for belongings they didn't own, temporary housing they never requested and cars worth far less than the government paid, according to a federal audit that questions millions in storm payouts.

The review found waste and poor controls in every level of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's assistance program and challenges the designation of Miami-Dade as a disaster area when the county "did not incur any hurricane force winds, tornados (sic) or other adverse weather conditions that would cause widespread damage."

As a result of the declaration, "millions of individuals and households became eligible to apply for (money), straining FEMA's limited inspection resources to verify damages and making the program more susceptible to potential fraud, waste and abuse," the report states.

.....

Two private companies, with five-year contracts worth $150 million each, provide inspectors who enter homes to verify hurricane damage. The companies hired 1,600 new inspectors to respond to the four Florida hurricanes and gave them only eight to 12 hours of training, the audit states. The work of the inspectors was not closely monitored, according to the report.

Examiners discovered potential conflicts of interest in particular in the hiring of 22 Miami-Dade residents to serve as inspectors in the county. Five verified claims within 20 blocks of their home. Another did inspections "just one block from his home," the audit states.

.....

'Waste', 'fraud' and 'poor controls' over the FEMA program in 2004? You don't say.....


Who was "President"? George W. Bush

Who was Florida governor? Brother Jeb Bush




Your witness.






By the way, Jeb Bush formed a new business last year (2011)-- privatized disaster response. It's no wonder why FEMA is so vilified by the right wing. FEMA's mere existence cuts into private profit that could be steered into the pockets of an over-privileged few.


Just like Jeb Bush's current assault on public education in his mad push to reform privatize it, directing profits into open pockets.


This picture is now in sharp focus. The war is now about the role of government--- whether it exists to help the people or merely to be consumed, dismantled and cast aside by the very wealthy and powerful among us.



We will decide next Tuesday.

[No Elephants]

1. Well, Dummya Bush apparently didn't think the government had any place in Katrina/Rita, either.

When I am in the hospital dying, my last words to my doctor will be "Hecka of a job, Brownie."

So, it runs in the family I guess.

The exception that proves the rule being believing in FEMA when it's more politically convenient to believe in FEMA.

Inconsistency like that is what happens when politics throws principles out the door because of party loyalty, or money or whatever.


Next Tuesday we will have the opportunity to decide among several parties. Those choices will include, but not be limited to, the Party of TARP I and the Party of TARP II.

[Enthusiast]

2. The private sector can handle it!

NOT!