Perry not happy: no fed disaster from Texas fires

[cali]

by Associated Press

Associated Press

Posted on May 4, 2011 at 10:43 AM

Updated today at 10:46 AM

Related:

* FEMA defends no more help over Texas wildfires

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Gov. Rick Perry has criticized the White House for rejecting a Texas request for a federal major disaster declaration and assistance over devastating wildfires.

A spokeswoman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency had no immediate comment Wednesday to The Associated Press.

Perry late Tuesday released a statement saying he was "dismayed" that last month's request was rejected. Perry's request came before a wave of deadly tornadoes swept across Alabama.

Perry says wildfires since November have burned more than 2.2 million acres and damaged or destroyed more than 400 homes.

<snip>

http://www.kvue.com/news/Perry-not-happy-no-fed-disaster-from-Texas-fires-121253044.html

[sufrommich]

1. Did Perry misplace his bootstraps? nt

[rubberducky]

3. +1

:rofl:

[blondeatlast]

5. LOL! nt

[AC_Mem]

11. Hahahahaaaaa!

Excellent!

Maybe he can get all those billionaires, oil tycoons and yacht owners to pitch in and help out a little. We have Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi to clean up.

Suck it Perry. I feel for the people affected by the wildfires, but understand this, Perry and the GOP are destroying the poor, sick, young and old of Texas just as surely as the fires are destroying the land.

Maybe some coordinated prayers in your GOP megachurches would help?

Annette

[City Lights]

14. Zing!

:thumbsup:

:rofl:

[sasha031]

2. While Fires Rage, Republicans Want To Cut Firefighting Funds

If any more evidence was needed to show the ridiculous nature of the budget cuts being proposed by the Republican-controlled Texas legislature, this could be it. As you may know, the past couple of weeks has seen wildfires raging across large sections of the state (see above map for currently affected areas). And these are just the latest fires -- a few weeks ago the Panhandle area was also hit by fires and more than 50 homes were burned down near Amarillo.

The reason these fires have been so devastating can be traced to the incredibly dry conditions in the state and high winds -- two conditions that are not uncommon in Texas in most years.
And since drought conditions and windy days are pretty commonplace, one would expect the legislature to adequately fund fire prevention and firefighting measures throughout the state -- especially in rural areas where these fires can quickly cover large areas. Sadly, that is not the case

In fact, while these fires are still raging, both houses of the state legislature have proposed budgets that would cut funds for the firefighting efforts by the Texas Forest Service (TFS) by nearly 40%. TFS currently has a budget for this of $42 million. The legislature wants to cut that budget down to only $25.8 million (61.4% of the current budget).

Texas relies heavily on volunteer fire departments to fight fires in rural areas, and lacking their own revenue sources, these volunteer departments rely heavily on state funds for new equipment purchases and fire prevention programs. The cuts to the TFS would eliminate much of the funding for this, leaving these departments ill-equipped and unprepared to fight the rural fires. And when these volunteer departments can handle the job, the TFS must ask for firefighting help from other states -- which costs four times as much money and delays the firefighting effort.
http://jobsanger.blogspot.com/2011/04/while-fires-rage-republicans-want-to.html

[w8liftinglady]

10. Hypocrites,all of them... all these actions took place while wildfires were active

http://wildfiretoday.com/2011/04/23/texas-legislature-proposes-to-cut-budget-of-texas-forest-service-by-30/
http://www.planofirefighters.org/
http://www.kvue.com/video/featured-videos/Volunteer-firefighters-in-Texas-struggle-with-financial-crisis-118510059.html
http://www.khou.com/news/Houston-firefighters-say-Mayor-Parker-is-threatening-layoffs-station-closures-118951829.html
http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/11154/while-texas-burns-texas-republicans-could-cut-funds-for-volunteer-firefighters-by-75
http://www.macombdaily.com/articles/2011/04/12/news/doc4da501bb801e9506711795.txt


Oh,and let me remind that ungrateful bastard,Rick.

Federal firefighters battle massive Texas blaze

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2011/04/20/us_texas_wildfires_2

Federal firefighters and officials from several U.S. agencies joined the fight against a massive wildfire burning 70 miles west of Fort Worth on Wednesday, the same day a Texas firefighter died from injuries suffered while battling a blaze earlier this month.

The fire at Possum Kingdom Lake is among several that have scorched about 1 million acres across bone-dry Texas in the past two weeks. The federal team joined local personnel to help fight a blaze that has burned nearly 150,000 acres and destroyed about 50 homes, said Haven Cook, a spokeswoman for the Southern Area Incident Management Team.

It's the second time a federal management group has been assembled in Texas to help battle the blazes that have been burning across the state for weeks.

[thereismore]

4. Perry, time to grab your bootstraps. nt

[orwell]

6. How's that succession thingy...

...workin' out for 'ya...

[blondeatlast]

8. Normally I never correct spelling (hones!) but the difference

in meaning (considering inherited privilege for Republican politicians; think GWB) is palpable here.

"secession"

[fredamae]

7. Dear Gov Perry!

Normally when one "files for divorce" all bets AND Responsibilities to one another End.

Get it? You publicly Rejected America, You Publicly Dissed the "Evil Social Programs and filthy gov't money" in favor of "States Rights" under the 10th.

You and your ilk stated you would file for Divorce from America because TX is "Oppressed"! Remember? Your people Cheered. We watched it on "The TV Machine".
Here, let me remind you of what you want:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4NZnHDmnu8&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5xTxcFA398
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgahd_k2ZBE

WTF Do You Expect From Us?

[Old and In the Way]

9. Sorry Rick....due to taxcuts your Party has instituted to drown our federal government in a bathtub,

we're unable to comply. It would increase our deficit. Here's an idea. Ask the Big Oil multi-billionaires in Texas for a little extra cash. Maybe Exxon-Mobil can designate Texas as their official charity.

[Lance_Boyle]

12. Whaddaya need Fed money for, Rick? You had those official state days of prayer for rain.

Don't you think your god might get angry at you calling his failure out like this?

[buddysmellgood]

13. We're not messin' with Texas.

[SoCalDem]

15. Dear Gov:

Many states levy TAXES on their citizens so there is a FUND available for contingencies like fires, floods, earthquakes, etc.

Obviously, from time to time, the damages exceed what has been set aside, and THEN the Feds step in to help out.

I always find it especially distressing when states that routinely poach businesses away from other states, by bribing them, seem to have plenty of money then, but when they have a disaster, they start bawling their eyes out & asking for handouts.

States that are prone to flooding, fires, earthquakes, hurricanes & tornadoes should be required to tax citizens so there is a disaster fund.. That should be a prerequisite for accessing Federal Funds..

Doesn't the Bible have something to say about "Helping those who help themselves"..,I don't think that;s about a second helping of mashed potatoes

[otohara]

16. Here's A Poll - Guess Who Texans Don't Like Much

....er...at all...and this his was over a year ago.
http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2010/02/poll-obamas-ratings-tank-in-texas/

[Hestia]

18. That poll is from February 2010 - is there nothing more current?

[butterfly77]

17. If at first you don't...

SECEDE try,try again....

[JuniperLea]

19. SOCIALIST!!!

He's asking for a socialist handout!

[FrenchieCat]

20. Dear Mr. Perry,

as you chose,
you're on your own.
Good luck.