Analysis: Trump approves 80% of GOP disaster aid — and 60% for Democrats
Fortune – Tech
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Summary
When major disasters strike, Americans are routinely waiting weeks — or even months — to receive presidential approval for aid. A batch of denials earlier this month included four Democratic states — Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island — seeking federal aid for a February snowstorm. “The President’s denial is part of a pattern of extreme partisanship as he tries to shift a heavier economic burden onto blue states. Senate and House members said in a joint statement. Obama approved 87% of the disaster requests from Democratic governors during his second term and 79% from Republican governors, but Obama’s approval rate was identical for states that voted for and against him. Because it can take several weeks after a disaster for officials to inspect the damage and submit a request, the total wait time often has exceeded two months. Bush — all had average disaster approval times of less than two weeks. Jackson said that Trump conducts a more thorough review than any administration before him, “ensuring American tax dollars are used appropriately and efficiently by the states to supplement — not substitute — their obligation to respond to and recover from disasters.” The longer the approval process takes, the longer people must wait to receive federal aid for daily living expenses, temporary lodging and home repairs. One of those, Cameron Hamilton , is awaiting Senate confirmation as the agency’s permanent director. During a Senate committee hearing last month, Hamilton said he would try to speed up disaster declaration decisions and reimbursements. Another recommendation, which would require congressional approval, would reduce the federal government’s share of the disaster aid from a minimum of 75% to 50% of the costs, leaving state and local governments more to cover.
From the source
When major disasters strike, Americans are routinely waiting weeks — or even months — to receive presidential approval for aid. And if they live in a state that didn’t support President Donald Trump, chances are greater that aid will be denied. Since taking office last year, Trump has approved about 65 requests for major disaster declarations and denied more than two dozen others from states, tribes or territories seeking federal financial assistance following hurricanes, tornadoes, storms, floods and fires. Trump has taken longer on average to approve disaster requests than any other president, according to an Associated Press analysis of data dating back to 1989, when a federal law setting new parameters for disaster determinations was implemented. And no other president has such a disparity in denials between states that supported him politically and those that did not. The delays and denials come as Trump’s administration contemplates a makeover of the Federal Emergency Management
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