Community | May 22, 2011 | 76 comments

TX GOP Slashes Funding For Agency Battling Wildfires, While Also Blasting Obama For Not Spending More

source: http://thinkprogress.org/2011/05/21/tx-gop-obama-fires/

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Schnookums
For months, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) has berated President Obama and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for not giving the state more federal money to combat historic wildfires that have so far burned 2.5 million acres. Despite the fact that the administration has offered 26 different kinds of federal assistance to combat the fires, Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) claimed that Obama is waging “a war on Texas.” After months of blaming the President for not doing enough, Reuters reported yesterday that Perry is poised to sign a budget that slashes funding for the state agency that is battling the wildfires.

Republicans control all three branches of government in Texas and are close to an agreement on a budget that makes deep cuts to the Texas Forest Service during an unprecedented and destructive wildfire season:


----The Texas Forest Service faces almost $34 million in budget cuts over the next two years, roughly a third of the agency’s total budget. The cuts are in both the House and Senate versions of the proposed state budget. [...]

Assistance grants [for volunteer fire departments] are likely to take the biggest hit. Volunteers — two of whom were killed in fighting this year’s fires — make up nearly 80 percent of the state’s fire-fighting force and are first responders to roughly 90 percent of wildfires in Texas.----


Chris Barron, executive director of the State Firemen’s and Fire Marshals’ Association, says the funding on the chopping block is indispensable. Many volunteer fire departments already have worn-down equipment, and without funding for new equipment, “response times will almost certainly increase.”

Perry’s recent boast that Texas is “a model for the nation in disaster preparedness and response” is especially ironic in light of his approval of cutting Forest Service funds when the agency most needs them. Meanwhile, the governor, who one Texas political columnist notes “has made almost a religion of blasting everything Obama does and doesn’t do,” has accused the president of pursuing a political vendetta against Texas.

“Why are you taking care of Alabama, why are you taking care of other states,” Perry said at a press conference this month, adding, “The letter [requesting federal aid] didn’t get lost in the mail.” Perry carried his public blame game so far that he even refused to meet with the president when he visited Texas last week to deliver an immigration address.

One recent Fort Worth Star Telegram editorial called out Perry for his posturing:


----Their feigned outrage and indignant messages to the White House about recent Texas wildfires and the administration’s refusal to declare practically the entire state a disaster area are acts of political grandstanding rather than true concern for the safety and welfare of fellow Texans. [...]

[Perry] knows full well that his request for a disaster declaration was overstated and that his insistence that FEMA is denying help is a gross exaggeration. [...]

Even if we assume, or desperately want to believe, that the federal government has not done enough to help Texas in this crisis, does anyone believe that all but two of Texas’ 254 counties should be declared a disaster area because of wildfires? That’s preposterous.----


Despite the fact that FEMA’s manpower and money have been stretched thin by a series of disasters, they’ve been deeply involved in the effort to fight the Texas fires and have given the state aid that “covers 75 percent of Texas’s costs for emergency response work, such as evacuations, equipment, field camps and meals for firefighters.”

http://thinkprogress.org/2011/05/21/tx-gop-obama-fires/
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    Obama,  Texas,  FEMA,  Wildfires
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76 comments // TX GOP Slashes Funding For Agency Battling Wildfires, While Also Blasting Obama For Not Spending More

  • CalgarC
  • bike10
  • August_K
    • +2
      August_K  

    • "Despite the fact that the administration has offered 26 different kinds of federal assistance to combat the fires, Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) claimed that Obama is waging “a war on Texas.”

      "Despite the fact that FEMA’s manpower and money have been stretched thin by a series of disasters, they’ve been deeply involved in the effort to fight the Texas fires and have given the state aid that “covers 75 percent of Texas’s costs for emergency response work, such as evacuations, equipment, field camps and meals for firefighters.”

      I love it when they get caught lying. I hope the people VOTE these lying crooks out of office.

    • 1 year ago
  • navider
  • Persecuted
    • -1
      Persecuted  
    • navider:

      you know what... im so sick of you acting like everyone in texas is a piece of shit... we feel almost the same way about rick perry that wisconsiners feel about scott walker... he's a piece of shit... and you can wish for us to secede all you want... but we arent going anywhere... and thats a GOOD thing, since texas is the number one job source in america.... there are a lot of GOOD things about texas... our dip shit governor is NOT one of them... and then democrat running against him just barely lost... so dont act like everyone in the state voted for this asshole

    • 1 year ago
  • p122345
  • Persecuted
  • Warren_Merrill
  • navider
  • August_K
  • Persecuted
  • Persecuted
  • Varex_Sythe
  • Warren_Merrill
  • Varex_Sythe
    • 0
      Varex_Sythe  
    • Warren_Merrill:

      A typical liberal response? Curious, because if recent memory serves correctly, there have been more conservative politicians than liberal ones that have used some version of the word "fuck" and some version of the word "you" in professional settings.

    • 1 year ago
  • gypsysailor
  • Persecuted
    • -1
      Persecuted  
    • gypsysailor:

      how small minded of you... most texans think rick perry is an asshole who is severely hurting our state... and most of the tea party does not come from texas anyways... but i suppose if you think that its perfectly fine for my whole state to burn down because you perceive millions of people to all be the exact same as what you've seen on tv, then ok... i suppose my house should be burned down... i suppose i deserve it for living in texas huh... i suppose my son is a tea bagging asshole too... he should be homeless too... i get it... i get it...

    • 1 year ago
  • letsliveinpeace
  • Emucratic
  • letsliveinpeace
  • Warren_Merrill
  • p122345
  • Warren_Merrill
    • +1
      Warren_Merrill  
    • p122345:

      Some moron who claimed to be a Republican who had zero political skills. I laughed when he was elected. He was voted in on the "I'm A Celebrity" ticket. It was the worst case of a state overreacting to the "throw the bum out" mentality over Gray Davis. But, California's problems started back in the late 80's early 90's when Willie Brown controlled California politics.

    • 1 year ago
  • Demtothecore
  • p122345
  • Persecuted
  • p122345
  • Persecuted
    • 0
      Persecuted  
    • p122345:

      how did i judge you by asking you a question directly related to what you said? and i live in a small town in texas... i dont know one single mean spirited religious nut... my point is that republicans just barely won any offices in this past election. you know what... fuck it... i'm stupid because i'm from texas. i should not even be in this conversation because i'm just an idiotic mindless texan... my iq, my lack of religion, my artistic creativity, my intelligence, my knowledge of current events and politics, my left leaning progressive stance, none of it matters because i'm just a stupid fuckin redneck from texas... so just forget it... im gonna go read my bible, burn a cross, and make love to my horses... because thats what every single texan does

    • 1 year ago
  • Charles9
    • +4
      Charles9  

    • You can't help people who won't help themselves. In this case, giving them more financial support is akin to welfare and goodness knows, Perry & Co are against that. All they are doing is trying to make up for lost time a 150+ years ago when Texas surrendered to the Union without a fight, and are creating a wedge situation where they can justify secession from the United States under false charges of abandonment. This is treason now as it was then.

    • 1 year ago
  • Warren_Merrill
  • Persecuted
    • 0
      Persecuted  
    • Charles9:

      he mentioned sucession one time and immidiately backtracked on it. it was not a popular idea in texas and is not an ongoing idea that the people of texas are considering. most of us hate rick perry too

    • 1 year ago
  • Persecuted
    • 0
      Persecuted  
    • Warren_Merrill:

      you aint kiddin! its rediculous how the liberals are throwing money at farm subsidies and oil subsidies and expanding the government and their employee payroll... its crazy how they are throwing money at the military and giving tax breaks to the wealthy and not collecting taxes on corporations....

      oh wait.... thats the other side doing all that... oops! disregard!

    • 1 year ago
  • p122345
  • Warren_Merrill
  • Varex_Sythe
    • +2
      Varex_Sythe  

    • I understand that people can be stupid enough to vote someone like this into office and then believe said elected official when this kind of shit happens, but I really have a hard time grasping how people can be that stupid and also be able to hold down a job.

    • 1 year ago
  • Wyley_Wombat
    • +1
      Wyley_Wombat  
    • Varex_Sythe:

      No No No They retain the stupid people, the ones that can think get laid off or forced to take "early retirement". (very early retirement) I treated the people that worked for me decently and not only did I think but encouraged them to do the same. I don't have to tell you the rest of the story except this was one of the largest corporations in the US.

    • 1 year ago
  • Persecuted
  • Milieu
  • chew_chew
    • +7
      chew_chew  

    • If one were cynical, one may think the Republicans enjoy creating very serious problems solely for the opportunity to blame Democrats.

      If one were cynical.

    • 1 year ago
  • Demtothecore
  • Persecuted
    • 0
      Persecuted  
    • Demtothecore:

      because texans dont want to... we know that we can leave the union at any time, but we offer a lot to this country and this country offers a lot to us... rick perry was severely chastized for his comment about seceeding and unfortunately, he and a handful of other people who get a lot of attention and attach texas along with whatever is going on, make us look like a bunch of dumb asses... you may not like a few people in texas, but i assure you, whatever state you live in has just as many jackasses in it... and who is YOUR governor? i dont know anyone who voted for rick perry... and everyone i know thinks he is a piece of shit... so its not like texans just fully support him... its a mystery why ANY republican in the political climate today gets elected... its surely a mystery of why this douchebag keeps getting elected... it doesnt mean that texans are stupid... just as much as electing walker in wisconsin doesnt make people from wisconsin stupid... or any other state that is lead by republicans... texas isnt going anywhere... no matter whether you wish for it or not... we were not at all ok with rick perry's comment and he was forced to immidiately correct himself publicly for it.

    • 1 year ago
  • Demtothecore
    • +2
      Demtothecore  
    • Persecuted:

      Jerry Brown is our Governor so your point is? As for Tx and Perry, if you folks keep electing him as your governor and allow him to keep with his BS then turn around and blame the federal government/President Obama, what do you think the rest of the Union thinks about TX who you claim hates him, but he and the Republican legislature is there getting voted in every time, raising hell, cutting social programs, threatening succession, even changing history by printing history books for kids adjusting history to suit their political POV, then screaming for help when a disaster hits? Now how do you even try to justify his and the people / electorate of TX actions? If you don't like the bastard then recall his ass! Recall the entire TX State assembly and put in people who will (according to you) reflect the true electorate and work with the rest of the union, and not act like they are a land unto themselves. Do not expect us to believe only Republicans which according to your note is a minority in TX vote in those assholes and the rest of you don't. You're voting record does not support that claim so please do not take out your frustrations with Perry et al. on me/us. I do not live there and never will. Fact I know folks who have left because according to them, what they have seen and experienced for themselves is not conducive to anything but total opposition to the Federal Government and a serious problem of racism. So again we/I am not the one making your folks look like asses. I think you folks and your voting record and rep is doing a fine job of that on your own!

    • 1 year ago
  • Persecuted
    • 0
      Persecuted  
    • Demtothecore:

      i personally speak for myself, not millions of people... it would be very narrow minded to classify a whole huge state of people by what i think... dont you think? end of conversation, this isnt going to go anywhere productive.

    • 1 year ago
  • Demtothecore
    • +1
      Demtothecore  
    • Persecuted:

      You really need to read what you wrote before making such an asinine response. Did YOU not say and I quote:
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      "but we offer a lot to this country and this country offers a lot to us..."
      "make us look like a bunch of dumb asses..."
      " i dont know anyone who voted for rick perry... and everyone i know thinks he is a piece of shit..."
      " we were not at all ok with rick perry's comment"
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOU ARE TALKING FOR YOURSELF OR FOR "WE/US" WHICH IS PLURAL FOR MORE THAN ONE PERSON I.E YOU?

    • 1 year ago
  • Persecuted
    • 0
      Persecuted  
    • Demtothecore:

      look... i know you live to fight and argue... and your caps are so intimidating to me, but im really a peaceful kinda chilled out person... you are right... i am wrong, it really doesnt matter, at the end of the day, i dont give a shit lol... have a great day

    • 1 year ago
  • Demtothecore
    • +1
      Demtothecore  
    • Persecuted:

      OK let me get this one straight. I made a comment, you took it on with your "we/us" mantra and I retorted and you responded saying I am grouping you with other and you can only speak for yourself which I then pointed out to not be so in your earlier post! Yet I am the one arguing and fighting with others? Again what the hell is wrong with TX?

    • 1 year ago
  • Persecuted
  • Demtothecore
    • 0
      Demtothecore  
    • Persecuted:

      These are some of your post from today, in this thread only, and you are calling me nasty? DAMN! Look in the mirror lately?
      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      0 Persecuted
      plumbobyeo:
      how did i judge you by asking you a question directly related to what you said? and i live in a small town in texas... i dont know one single mean spirited religious nut... my point is that republicans just barely won any offices in this past election. you know what... fuck it... i'm stupid because i'm from texas. i should not even be in this conversation because i'm just an idiotic mindless texan... my iq, my lack of religion, my artistic creativity, my intelligence, my knowledge of current events and politics, my left leaning progressive stance, none of it matters because i'm just a stupid fuckin redneck from texas... so just forget it... im gonna go read my bible, burn a cross, and make love to my horses... because thats what every single texan does

      gypsysailor:
      how small minded of you... most texans think rick perry is an asshole who is severely hurting our state... and most of the tea party does not come from texas anyways... but i suppose if you think that its perfectly fine for my whole state to burn down because you perceive millions of people to all be the exact same as what you've seen on tv, then ok... i suppose my house should be burned down... i suppose i deserve it for living in texas huh... i suppose my son is a tea bagging asshole too... he should be homeless too... i get it... i get it...

      -1 Persecuted
      navider:
      FUCK YOU!

    • 1 year ago
  • Persecuted
    • 0
      Persecuted  
    • Demtothecore:

      wow... you are really reaching hard for this fight...this is the 3rd time i've told that that i wont fight with you. you are incapable of holding an adult conversation and i dont speak to people who are insulting and type in caps locked. if you could ever approach a conversation with me in an adult manner, then i would converse with you, but as long as you are acting like a screaming child, i wont do it...have a great day...

    • 1 year ago
  • Demtothecore
    • 0
      Demtothecore  
    • Persecuted:

      LOL. Adult here so what exactly would I want to fight with you about? You a total stranger who I don't give a damn about? Again I made a post and you responded with a bit of anger which I responded to by answering your question about our states governor and your response was what? LOL. Frankly sweetie I don't give a damn or care enough about you to spend time fighting about excuses you have made about TX when the rest of the posters in the thread have said worst. So if you are pissed about my comment then that's your "prekey!" I find it amusing your line of defense and BS attempt at insults. Damn why won't you folks change your game of diversion when cornered with your own BS? LOL. And is this number 4 for you? Are you getting angry and will get me on the play field after school? LOL. Please do not beat my ass to a pulp! LOL! This is me running away from your fight! LOL!

    • 1 year ago
  • Persecuted
  • Demtothecore
  • Persecuted
  • Demtothecore
  • Persecuted
  • Demtothecore
  • kennymotown
  • xhuffpo
    • +7
      xhuffpo  

    • There is nothing wrong with this, no hypocrisy at all, this is just a logical step in the process of destroying the government and it's ability to do anything to help the people that aren't in the top 5% of wealth.
      Texas has been successful in destroying the education system so this makes sense to the voters there

      I thinking that by this time the Texas republicans are ready to announce that Obama was the shooter on the grassy knoll. Unless it is already put into their history books

    • 1 year ago
  • Persecuted
  • ThirdSection
  • robbie2622
  • ThirdSection
  • nobsartist
    • +5
      nobsartist  

    • I think that texas should be put under control of an "emergency financial manager" like we have in michigan now and then dissolved so the will have no past encumberances. Then we can sell the shit hole to the highest bidder.

    • 1 year ago
  • Persecuted
    • 0
      Persecuted  
    • nobsartist:

      as a texan, i fully agree with you. rick perry is out of control. one example... the governors mansion burned down several years ago. he has been building a new elaborate governors mansion since then and has been charging not only the reconstruction charges to the people (thats understandable i suppose) but he has also been charging his 10k a month rent to the people of texas. He is an irresponsible jackass and we hate him... the majority of us really do hate him... the problem is, texas is a job maker... theres tons to do, lots of activities, a lot of great and friendly people, and good job stability... its not the shittiest place in the world to be... but i do miss wisconsin

    • 1 year ago
  • Wyley_Wombat
  • BrushwithDeathToothpaste
  • Wyley_Wombat
  • changeweneed
  • Persecuted
    • 0
      Persecuted  
    • changeweneed:

      yes its quite shocking that the history books for school children are written by a religious nut who is not even a historian... when my child gets old enough to go to school, he will go to a charter or private or home school for sure... i do not want him to be taught creationism or that non truths that i was taught in school

    • 1 year ago
  • Schnookums
    • +7
      Schnookums  

    • You have to admit that Republicans are simply better at the game of politics. They literally don't care who gets hurt in their quest to make the other side look bad, so long as they win in the end. How more of their voters don't see this is beyond comprehension, but it does lend credence to their argument that the educational system is broken......

    • 1 year ago
  • DougChristian
  • Schnookums
    • +4
      Schnookums  
    • DougChristian:

      You're right. I have said that, and it isn't fair. Democrats (as a group) usually sell-out at some point along the way and fail to carry through on what might have started out as good intentions.

    • 1 year ago
  • robbie2622
  • gypsysailor
  • Warren_Merrill
  • Persecuted
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