Saturday, September 10, 2011

On Eve Of 9/11 Anniversary, Cantor Insists On Massive Cuts To First Responders

Eric Cantor continues to be an embarrassment to Virginia - and the human race. Weasel in chief Cantor wants massive cuts in funding for first responders in exchange for disaster relief payments in the wake of Hurricane Irene and other natural disasters. Funny how Cantor had no qualms about rubber stamping whatever deficit spending Chimperator Bush and Emperor Palpatine Cheney asked for during the years of misrule. As regular readers know, I have absolutely no use for Cantor and continue to hope that his constituents will get their heads out of their asses and vote the douche bag out of office. The man is despicable. Here are some highlights from Think Progress:

Yesterday, President Obama requested $5.1 billion to provide disaster relief to communities struggling to recover from recent hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and wildfires. The request includes $500 million in emergency funds FEMA needs to continue to operate effectively through the end of September.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, whose home state of Virginia was hit by an earthquake and Hurricane Irene, is demanding more partisan spending cuts in exchange for approving the request.

The funds referenced by Cantor’s spokesperson are contained in the House Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill, which is adamantly opposed by Senate Democrats. Why? The “offsets” contained in the bill are actually massive cuts to first responders. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) explains: The House bill slashes funding for grants to equip and train first responders by 40 percent. This is on top of the 19 percent cut in FY 2011. The House defense appropriations bill provides $12.8 billion to train and equip troops and police in Afghanistan — yet the House provides only $2 billion for first responders here at home.

In December, Cantor opposed a bipartisan bill “to improve health services and provide financial compensation for 9/11 first responders who were exposed to dangerous toxins and are now sick as a result.” Now, on the eve of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, Cantor is pushing for further cuts to first responders in exchange for disaster relief.

Cantor and his staff continue to insist “There will be no delay in meeting the president’s request and providing people the aid they need.” But they have yet to support any such request absent more partisan spending cuts.

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