David Koch fights Sandy relief

[White Eagle]

David Koch couldn't take Obama out of office even if it cost $125 million. Tough!
So instead he is going to work on getting victims of Hurricane Sandy no funds to recover from the storm.
It is just like an asshole such as him.
Now lets see the Jubber Goppers come to his aid. Is it really someone you want to protect?


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/1...f?detail=email

Mon Dec 24, 2012 at 07:48 AM PST
David Koch fights Sandy relief

by Joan McCarterFollow

David Koch is competing with Wayne LaPierre for being the craziest Scrooge this holiday season. Koch's crusade is denying Sandy victims any emergency relief. Any relief. All relief.

Billionaire David Koch’s prime political organization, Americans for Prosperity (AFP), having failed in its$125 million quest to oust President Barack Obama, is now aiming at a slightly less sophisticated political target: victims of Hurricane Sandy. [...]

[WisonsinProud]

As usual, the Daily Kos ignores the real story to partake in partisan bullying. Democrats are filling the Sandy Relief Bill with lots of extra expenses that have no relation to Hurricane Sandy Relief. Daring anyone to vote against it. Ask yourself how many Sandy victims live in Alaska? Because that is where some of the money is the bill is going

[vidarr]

Surely the victims would receive some kind of aid.

Isn't that what we have FEMA for?

[JayHawk]

Surely the victims would receive some kind of aid.

Isn't that what we have FEMA for?

Money doesn't exist in an account somewhere that we use to pay for disasters because you cannot project the scope nor the total cost. So every time an emergency occurs whether it be a man made oil spill or a devastating tornado the congress (the house specifically) has to approve a funding measure to provide relief assets. That applies to both personal and public works. Without that approval there is no money. FEMA is simply a group of professionals of different disciplines that the federal government entrust initial response and then recovery efforts. With recovery comes the funds.... IF congress approves the funds.

Koch.....released a letter warning members of Congress not to vote for the proposed federal aid package for victims of the storm that swept New Jersey, New York City and much of the surrounding area in October.

Koch is seeking to prevent congress from helping.

[vidarr]

Koch can't strong arm congress forever.. Or at least I'd like to think not.

Sooner or later someone's going to have the balls to stand up to him and pass higher taxes for his empire.
You can't deny people the basic necessities just because you don't like them.

[JayHawk]

Yeah unfortunately those with money have been telling our politicians what to do for decades. They are usually not so openly contemptuous of the American people while they are doing it. However, rest assured if anyone has an address on K street they represent money and influence our laws and policies both domestically and abroad.

[Kulindahr]

Congress should pass a law seizing half of David Koch's fortune to help the victims. Turn the matter over to the IRS for collection.

[Rolyo85]

I am confused. Isn't that overstepping the influence money gives you? I mean, it's kind of like the whole election GOP campaign - too blatant. You can't just say "I hate disaster victims so don't give them money" for fuck's sake O.o

[Kulindahr]

I am confused. Isn't that overstepping the influence money gives you? I mean, it's kind of like the whole election GOP campaign - too blatant. You can't just say "I hate disaster victims so don't give them money" for fuck's sake O.o

I think Koch sincerely believes that not helping people get back on their feet is good for them -- sort of the "whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger" nonsense. Supposedly they'll come out tougher and more self-reliant, I suppose.

What gets me is his audacity in using "we"....

[frankfrank]

for David Koch (or any of his Koch-suckers):

What do you mean by "We," paleface?

[JayHawk]

Congress should pass a law seizing half of David Koch's fortune to help the victims. Turn the matter over to the IRS for collection.

No offense dude... but this is pretty alarming. You argue the rights in our constitution for freedom of speech or the right to bear arms. Forget repealing the second amendment causing rebellion. Try the illegal confiscation of assets.

I don't agree with his position obviously. However, the rich should not be punished for being rich. They should pay the same tax rate as I do but other than that he can do with his money as he wishes. What needs to change is the influence money has on our politicians. Unfortunately, those with money like the influence and have the influence to keep our lawmakers from fixing the corrupt system. That is where it needs fixed. This is almost the ad nauseum discussion in CEP but we need term limits and campaign finance rules that preclude undue influence and foster a sense of public service versus public power assumption.

[palemale]

Perhaps in the new Congress the Senate and House of Representatives should adopt a new rule that emergency disaster relief legislation should not be permitted to be amended to add non-disaster relief measures, or indeed include measures not related to a disaster that has been declared by the president or a governor.

[rareboy]

^ This would solve a lot of problems.

In fact, it is a shame that all legislation can't be restricted this way. It might actually make governing more transparent and reduce the amount of pork barrelling.

[andysayshi]

This is almost the ad nauseum discussion in CEP but we need term limits and campaign finance rules that preclude undue influence and foster a sense of public service versus public power assumption.

Amen.

[White Eagle]

As usual, the Daily Kos ignores the real story to partake in partisan bullying. Democrats are filling the Sandy Relief Bill with lots of extra expenses that have no relation to Hurricane Sandy Relief. Daring anyone to vote against it. Ask yourself how many Sandy victims live in Alaska? Because that is where some of the money is the bill is going

This is really the first time I've been told this about kos. You got a cite of what these "lots of extra expenses" are?

[Kulindahr]

No offense dude... but this is pretty alarming. You argue the rights in our constitution for freedom of speech or the right to bear arms. Forget repealing the second amendment causing rebellion. Try the illegal confiscation of assets.

I don't agree with his position obviously. However, the rich should not be punished for being rich. They should pay the same tax rate as I do but other than that he can do with his money as he wishes. What needs to change is the influence money has on our politicians. Unfortunately, those with money like the influence and have the influence to keep our lawmakers from fixing the corrupt system. That is where it needs fixed. This is almost the ad nauseum discussion in CEP but we need term limits and campaign finance rules that preclude undue influence and foster a sense of public service versus public power assumption.

Better to confiscate assets than to allow tyranny to fester.

Besides which, I thought the hyperbole was obvious. Maybe we need some conic section emoticons.....


What really needs to change is a tax system that actually rewards the wealthy and penalizes the poor and middle class, which an unbiased analysis shows we have. But first, let's get an amendment that says that only actual human beings who are citizens or legal residents have any political rights.

[Kulindahr]

This is really the first time I've been told this about kos. You got a cite of what these "lots of extra expenses" are?

Here are a couple:

http://m.freedomworks.org/blog/77002...-little-relief
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion...ptUJzDff69z1dP
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/cong...medium=twitter

[JayHawk]

Here are a couple:

http://m.freedomworks.org/blog/77002...-little-relief
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion...ptUJzDff69z1dP
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/cong...medium=twitter

Wow that surprises me said no one -- ever.

What is funny is the knee jerk reaction that it is democrats stuffing the bill. The main outrage i saw was Alaskan Fisheries ... yet that state has a Senator of each flavor.

The Sandy aid package, proposed by the White House, passed 62-32 in a bipartisan vote that included 12 Republicans,

The Senate also rejected Republican amendments aimed at limiting the cost of the aid bill by increasing local contributions to construction projects, requiring competitive bidding and removing union-wage requirements for work done.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) withdrew his amendment to strip from the aid bill $336 million for Amtrak to prepare to build two new train tunnels. The item was added to the president's request by New York and New Jersey lawmakers.

I guess we get to see if the House spends the funds or rejects the pork.

[White Eagle]

Here are a couple:

http://m.freedomworks.org/blog/77002...-little-relief
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion...ptUJzDff69z1dP
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/cong...medium=twitter

Well, Damn. Why do they keep on trying this shit. They should know the House will kill it.

[Kulindahr]

Well, Damn. Why do they keep on trying this shit. They should know the House will kill it.

With a "no pork" pledge in place with the Tea Party, we can hope so.

Truly sad to be counting on that batch to do something right.

[Jack Springer]

This is really the first time I've been told this about kos. You got a cite of what these "lots of extra expenses" are?

Did you even take time to read the opinion blog article your quoted and the link the blog Daily Kos based their article on?

http://www.thenation.com/blog/171906...sandy-victims#

The bill has billions of dollars going to non-Sandy related issues. If the bill were solely to help victims without embellishments to non-hurricane Sandy there would be little opposition to the bill.

Some politicians can't resist spending money like it's going out of style.

The solution is restraint, helping those that need help and not trying to slip special deals into bills that would pass with little opposition.

However, the Senate has passed the bill along with all the special little deals for all their special big people. Sad. Why not pass a clean bill that would pass both houses that helps victims of Sandy .. and not one that fills the pockets of your special friends.

[MystikWizard]

Alright, let's round up the torches and pitchforks and storm the castle ...

......

Wait a minute ... maybe it would be a good idea to become informed and discover what other pork the bill has been loaded with before I start a riot.

[Kulindahr]

Alright, let's round up the torches and pitchforks and storm the castle ...

......

Wait a minute ... maybe it would be a good idea to become informed and discover what other pork the bill has been loaded with before I start a riot.

Except Koch doesn't care what else the bill has been loaded with; he opposes the notion of the government helping people in the first place.

Except corporations, of course.

[palemale]

^ This would solve a lot of problems.

In fact, it is a shame that all legislation can't be restricted this way. It might actually make governing more transparent and reduce the amount of pork barrelling.

I read about the emergency legislation after posting. The Republicans didn't identify anything in the legislation that wasn't a true emergency, only that they didn't have time to see if there might be. That's ridiculous. Take the time. They go off on a recess and say there isn't enough time to read emergency legislation. If I have an emergency injunction I have to do for a client, I work day and night, weekends, whatever, until its done. Sounds to me like the Republicans are know they have an unpopular position and don't want to by honest about it.

[JayHawk]

I read about the emergency legislation after posting. The Republicans didn't identify anything in the legislation that wasn't a true emergency, only that they didn't have time to see if there might be. That's ridiculous. Take the time. They go off on a recess and say there isn't enough time to read emergency legislation. If I have an emergency injunction I have to do for a client, I work day and night, weekends, whatever, until its done. Sounds to me like the Republicans are know they have an unpopular position and don't want to by honest about it.

Not only that but with so little done in their two years and with so many items needing their attention why the fuck cant they be at work... I have been deployed and on the job for too many entire holiday seasons to give them a pass because they cant go home.

[Kulindahr]

Not only that but with so little done in their two years and with so many items needing their attention why the fuck cant they be at work... I have been deployed and on the job for too many entire holiday seasons to give them a pass because they cant go home.

They love the privilege and the prestige, but don't want the responsibility.

[chrisrobin]

Sounds to me like the Republicans are know they have an unpopular position and don't want to by honest about it.

Republicons don't want to be honest about anything. They have nothing to offer us. They never do.



Remember: hate plus fear equals power.

[frankfrank]

Except Koch doesn't care what else the bill has been loaded with; he opposes the notion of the government helping people in the first place.

Except corporations, of course.

"corporations are people, my friend." - Mitt Romney, 2012

(Where is that vomit smiley when I need it?)

[Jack Springer]

Why not just help the people that were effected by Sandy and not pet democrat party projects.

BTW: Ask Obama to cut out the red tape -- people still can't get help.



http://www.nypost.com/p/news/nationa...Elj4CKwbheEV0N

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articl...ief.aspx#page1

[Kulindahr]

I read an analysis of that Alaskan fisheries claim, that said it isn't precisely Alaskan fisheries, it's language providing help for fisheries damages by storm action -- but not specifying which storm! The Alaskan bit seems to come in because fisheries there could make claims totaling that under the language of the bill.

I suspect a lot of this is the same sort of inane sloppiness.

[loki81]

so, Hurricane Sandy aid effectively killed in the House and probably won't get picked up again until the next Congress.

thanks, Washington! New Jersey already suffers from the biggest disparity in the country in terms of how much it gives to the federal government in tax dollars versus what it gets back... maybe it's time to tell the welfare states to go fuck themselves?

House Republicans abruptly pulled the plug Tuesday night on their promise to take up this week an emergency supplemental disaster aid bill for Northeast states damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

The decision is a stunning reversal since just hours before New Jersey lawmakers were preparing for floor debate Wednesday as outlined under a strategy promoted by no less than Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.).

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/0...#ixzz2GnJKdrln

[Kulindahr]

^
What a circus.

Maybe Obama should make it the center piece of a new stimulus bill with something for every state, aimed at fixing things that need fixing.