Romney speaks with FEMA

[el_em_en_oh]

Davenport, Iowa (CNN) – Mitt Romney spoke Monday with officials from the Federal Emergency Management Administration and the National Weather Service as Hurricane Sandy slammed into the U.S. East Coast.

Romney joined the representatives from the agencies, as well as officials from the Department of Homeland Security, on a 20-minute phone call at 4 p.m. ET while the GOP nominee was in Davenport, Iowa for an event, according to campaign spokesman Kevin Madden.

The presidential candidate received updates on the progress of the Category 1 hurricane, as well as the status of federal, state and local disaster relief efforts, Madden said. Romney was further briefed on the potential effects to states and communities in the storm's immediate aftermath.

Romney's comments about FEMA, made at a CNN Republican primary debate in June 2011, received renewed attention Monday. At the time, Romney said he favored states taking on a large role in disaster relief. "Every time you have an occasion to take something from the federal government and send it back to the states, that's the right direction," he said.

Asked Monday whether Romney held the same position he did at the June 2011 debate, Romney campaign spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg explained the candidate believes "states should be in charge of emergency management in responding to storms and other natural disasters in their jurisdictions."

"As the first responders, states are in the best position to aid affected individuals and communities, and to direct resources and assistance to where they are needed most," Henneberg said. "This includes help from the federal government and FEMA."

While Romney canceled his campaign plans in Virginia on Sunday, in addition to an event in Wisconsin Monday night, he still held a rally in Iowa Monday. The campaign said the event was attended by 2,250 people, according to a count of those who went through security.

"I was speaking today with the National Weather Service and the folks at FEMA as they're preparing for the landfall of a very dangerous hurricane. It's going to affect a lot of families, it already has," Romney said at the event.

He continued: "And the damage will probably be significant and of course a lot of people will be out of power for a long time and so hopefully your thoughts and prayers will join with mine and people across the country as you think about those folks that are in harm's way."

The former Massachusetts governor encouraged supporters to donate to the American Red Cross. "We love our fellow Americans, wish them well!"

President Barack Obama, who also canceled campaign events, spoke to reporters in the White House Briefing Room earlier Monday, saying "millions of people" will feel the storm's impact. He held a briefing Sunday at FEMA's headquarters in Washington, D.C. and met with officials on Monday in the White House Situation Room.

SOURCE: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/29/romney-speaks-with-fema/

[specialmom]

Fema is includedin a section that Romney said needs cuts so that 43% is not just Fema but part of the overall cut.  I would say that negotiating how much is to be cut is how we make progress especially since all agree that Fema has some issues.  

[brice1967]

Katrina.... Private contractors cleaning up after Katrina made a mass of money by over bidding.  When the chaos ensued, FEMA was doing all it could to just jump in and get things cleaned up...  

This is precisely the problem and it is a 2 headed snake.  The waste of money and resources and all of the red tape necessary to be awarded contracts.  Different contractors were getting paid for doing the exact same job on the exact same sights.  An oversight caused by the panic and red tape.

[nursegirl6572]

but in this case, the FEMA funds should not even be in a "cutting" conversation.

Of course they should be!!  Do you think all of FEMA's funding is used appropriately and goes directly to those in need?  That's the problem....it's not run in a way that is fiscally responsible, cuts DO need to be made.

EVERY single entity in the gov't should be on the table when cuts are considered.  So much misuse, waste, etc.

You're assuming that "cuts" equal people just being left to die.  There are all kinds of cuts that could be made that could actually make them MORE efficient.  I'm going out on a limb here, but I bet there could be huge management cuts, as a start.  Most of those kinds of departments have so many people in charge, they're tripping over one another.

[brice1967]

Can't be Barb.....  Oh wait, yes it can... and that isn't even mentioning the ones that had been used and subsequently destroyed.  "Recycle, reduce, reuse.... right down the toilet.

Why is the media not beating this into the ground?  You'd think they would...they've done little to support Romney, so this should be their ticket.

[MrsPincince]

I think we ALL can agree that FEMA needs to be overhauled. However, MItt Romney should not cut it by 43% like his running mate's Ryan Budget proposes. President Obama also cut FEMA but by ONLY 3% obviously the President knows a cut should be made but it needs to be a sensible cut and I think that's where Mitt Romney is getting it all wrong. They positions are so drastic that they don't want to see it in the middle. The states are unfunded as it is, How in the world would they be able to handle a Natural Disaster? You can't assume it won't be bad because they are ALL bad and the funds need to be ready if/when it happens. This particular subject IMO is plain and simple. It's about Government doing its job by protecting those who cannot protect themselves in the time of a natural Disaster. We can go back and forth about "Government role" but in this case, the FEMA funds should not even be in a "cutting" conversation. If anything, they should REVAMP all the people that work there and fund it more. Take those funds and distribute it to the state so at least they can have funds the be effective first responders...

[R Glass]

Funny how the Media hasn't covered this.

[Barb135]

We had a bunch of left over FEMA trailers in our area after the hurricanes in 2004........ 8 years later, they're still sitting in a field; never been used.  

[R Glass]

FEMA needs over hauling and held accountable for their waste. After Katrina and Gustav, we were left with countless FEMA Trailers. Many of them were never lived in. They were abandoned by FEMA. There are so many of them, to this day they are still being auctioned off to the lowest bidder. I had a couple of friends that hauled them and averaged about $2,000 a haul. God only knows what the total cost of Tax Payer's Money these trailers were I have another friend that bought one (never lived in) to use as a Hunting Camp for $1,500. I’m sure people in Florida and Texas have seen the same waste of Tax Payer Money.

[specialmom]

I know we are trying to not knock sources these days but mrsP, the daily kos?  It states in its first sentence "politics from a liberal perspective".

Making cuts to various programs has to happen.  I mean, when I do my own budget, I look at it where I have to put money and how much I have.  And when things are tight, I see where I can cut back a little in different areas.  Otherwise, I'm overspending if my budget outdoes my income.  Spend more than you have equals debt.  It's a simple forumula.  What amount should be cut?  Perhaps this is where Dems and Repubs can negotiate and compromise.  

Also, why did FEMA request the return of 22 million from Katrina victems last year?  
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/01/fema-to-demand-that-hurri_n_869584.html

Perhaps Fema has some problems.  ???

[MrsPincince]

Yes the state is first responder, however,...... "Over the last two years, Congressional Republicans have forced a 43 percent reduction in the primary FEMA grants that pay for disaster preparedness. Representatives Paul Ryan, Eric Cantor and other House Republicans have repeatedly tried to refuse FEMA’s budget requests when disasters are more expensive than predicted, or have demanded that other valuable programs be cut to pay for them. The Ryan budget, which Mr. Romney praised as “an excellent piece of work,” would result in severe cutbacks to the agency, as would the Republican-instigated sequester, which would cut disaster relief by 8.2 percent on top of earlier reductions."

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/30/1152413/-Abbreviated-Pundit-Roundup-Sandy-FEMA-and-the-GOP-s-drastic-budget-cuts

[adgal]

I have to say, I still don't understand the argument with this one either.  It just makes perfect sense to me that the states be the "first responder" if you will.  The feds are the back up plan.  It has to 100 times easier, more efficient and faster to do it that way.  

That being said, it sounds like the aftermath of Sandy is being well handled, and that is the main thing.  Lives before politics, so whatever makes the most sense to the potential victims in one of these disasters.

[nursegirl6572]

I don't get it.  It's exactly the same thing he said the first time around, I see no change.  Like I said in the other thread...."cuts' and "abolish" are two different things.  Most definitely every entity can find something to cut.


The states will never have the means to deal with something of the magnitude of Sandy.

Something of this magnitude (Sandy) is a no brainer....of course resources from state, local and federal would have to be combined.  

Just as one example....while I'm pleased that Obama was proactive in signing approvals for federal aid for the states involved in Sandy, in MANY areas (mine) it was FAR FAR less severe than the officials were predicting.  

So, my question would be...is there going to be money spent in areas who don't really NEED it, because Obama has given the "a-ok"?  Certainly, the hardest hit areas need the help, and should get it...but in places where the storm made a HUGELY less significant impact than initially expected....I'm not sure the extra measures were necessary.  Hopefully, the gesture doesn't get abused.  Weather is a tough one for sure...you never know what's going to happen...I just think perhaps some of those funds could have been saved by waiting a bit to see how bad it was truly going to be.

FEMA needs an overhaul for sure...even with the changes Obama has made, there's a long way to go, IMO.  I think Romney's ideas are good ones, and I hope he gets a chance to present them to Congress.

[specialmom]

But isn't he saying that states go first and THEY request the aid verses Feds stepping in before that?  

I read up on compounding and that is something that MANY have fallen through the cracks as it is not regulated the same way the pharmaceutical industry is.  I am certain this will now change and am hoping that the holistic health industry is next in line.  I do believe in regulation regarding our safety with food and drugs.  

[mikesimon]

The states will never have the means to deal with something of the magnitude of Sandy. This is the same old republican like - the states can handle it. But they generally don't. The state sure didn't adequately oversee the compounding pharmacy in New England which caused all the deaths from fungal meningitis. Hopefully the FDA would have done a better job that the state of Massachusetts.

[MrsPincince]

But he wants to cut FEMA aid

[specialmom]

To me, his stance is states first and that they can then use Fema and federal aid.  Sounds right to me too.  ????  

"This includes help from the federal government and FEMA."  

[MrsPincince]

Apparently, he has nothing to say...

[orphanedhawk]

Mitt Romney Refuses To Talk About FEMA After Hurricane Sandy Event

Mitt Romney refused to answer reporters' questions about how he would handle the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), after a Tuesday "storm relief" event in Ohio for Hurricane Sandy.

From the Romney pool report:

    TV pool asked Romney at least five times whether he would eliminate FEMA as president/what he would do with FEMA. He ignored the qs but they are audible on cam. The music stopped at points and the qs would have been audible to him.

A follow-up report noted the specific questions Romney ignored, as he was collecting hurricane supplies following his event:

    "Gov are you going to eliminate FEMA?" a print pooler shouted, receiving no response.

    Wires reporters asked more questions about FEMA that were ignored.

    Romney kept coming over near pool to pick up more water. He ignored these questions:

    "Gov are you going to see some storm damage?"

    "Gov has [New Jersey Gov.] Chris Christie invited you to come survey storm damage?"

    "Gov you've been asked 14 times, why are you refusing to answer the question?"

During a GOP primary debate last year, Romney had said he supported the idea of states and private sector groups taking over responsibility for disaster relief.

"Every time you have an occasion to take something from the federal government and send it back to the states, that's the right direction," he said. "And if you can go even further and send it back to the private sector, that's even better. Instead of thinking, 'In the federal budget, what we should cut?' we should ask the opposite question: 'What should we keep?'"

"We cannot -- we cannot afford to do those things without jeopardizing the future for our kids," Romney continued, when asked specifically about disaster relief. "It is simply immoral, in my view, for us to continue to rack up larger and larger debts and pass them on to our kids, knowing full well that we'll all be dead and gone before it's paid off. It makes no sense at all."

Those comments were highlighted in the wake of Hurricane Sandy as a sign of how Romney might respond to natural disasters. His campaign quickly clarified that Romney's emergency management response would include FEMA.

“Governor Romney believes that states should be in charge of emergency management in responding to storms and other natural disasters in their jurisdictions,” said campaign spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg. “As the first responders, states are in the best position to aid affected individuals and communities and to direct resources and assistance to where they are needed most. This includes help from the federal government and FEMA.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/30/mitt-romney-fema_n_2044213.html

[MrsPincince]

Good for him..Maybe now he'll change his mind about cutting funds....