Dispute Continues Between Texas, Feds on Fire Help
Did the federal government drag its feet in providing disaster relief to the victims of the devastating Bastrop County fires? It depends on whom you ask. State officials say they began petitioning for assistance early last week. Federal officials say the state did not request specific assistance for those who lost their homes in Bastrop until Friday — and then it was promptly granted.
The dustup is the latest in a dispute between Texas officials, including Gov. Rick Perry, and the Obama administration that began in April when Perry submitted a broad request that 252 of Texas' 254 counties be given ...
Comments (14)
Mark Farley via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The State of Texas should sue the Feds, if necessary, to get what it is entitled to by law.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Perry is trying to put the blame on the feds for this--amazing.
Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Looks to me like someone dropped the paperwork ball. My bet is on Perry/Dew.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Rick Perry and the Texas legislature is just trying to distract you from the fact they they cut the Texas firefighters budget. Funny how Perry hates the Feds until he needs money.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Btw, seems like I recall Perry saying that the reason the Rainy Day Fund could not be used to balance the budget was because it needed to be kept in the event of an emergency/disaster?
Jose B. Gonzalez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Perry was at first too proud to ask the federal government for assistance, took him too long to declare an emergency. Not enough firefighters was also his doing...
Julie Harris via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Very confused. Feds good or Feds bad? Reminds me of a teenager "Leave me alone. But first give $20 and take me to the mall!"
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Perry has never been *too proud* to ask the federal govt. for assistance. This article was in 2009 and Texas as gotten allot more federal assistance since then. http://motherjones.com/mojo/2009/04/texas-run-secessionist-guv-has-received-federal-disaster-relief-more-times-any-state
Marc Lippincott via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Perry was probably at a debate and, as his college grades show, not particularly good at paperwork
Terry Wells via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Perry was busy delivering his 10k rent check...can't be bothered with pesky paperwork.
John Carhart via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Texas (under Perry's brilliant leadership) has done nothing in the past decade to build water resources while at the same time encouraging rapid population growth (the "Texas Miracle"). When we start running out of water (some communities are already at that point) will Perry and the GOP blame THAT on the FEDS too?
geoff giblert
It's confusing because this article is poorly written. How about laying out a timeline of all what was requested since April? Then explain each request and response from the Federal Gov't. Then recap the process and point out the differences in the requests.
Is the Fed parsing bits and pieces of early requests? Were the requests improperly filed or incomplete in some way? I thought the point of journalism was to not only record the he said she said, but to actually attempt to make some sense of the topic and put it into perspective.
Cmon Trib.
Charles Jones
What is the problem with Texas receiving federal help to fight the wildfires? We Texans pay our taxes( unlike those on Obama's staff) and should receive assistance when needed. Rest assured all the welfare queens, crackheads, illegals, etc. are receiving their money and unearned benefits when they don't even pay taxes!!! Ticked off......
Jim Letchworth
.."i'm goin' ta make sure i git th' fedrl govment outta' your life."