Lou Barletta just may become the Congressman we need

I got this press release today:

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, PA-11, said he voted against a continuing resolution Wednesday because the measure didn’t provide enough disaster relief funding.

Rep. Barletta released the following statement after his vote:

I support the Senate version of this bill because this continuing resolution doesn’t include enough funding for disaster victims. I, along with 76 Democrats, sent a letter to the House leadership saying that we support the Senate version of the bill because it includes more funding for disaster relief. I agree with Senator Casey and Senator Toomey, who supported the Senate bill.

Every day I toured the destruction caused by record flooding in Northeastern Pennsylvania, I told my constituents at home that I would come back to Congress and fight for them. I promised them that I would make sure the full resources of the federal government are used to help them rebuild and protect them from future floods. This continuing resolution does not do enough to rebuild the lives of people who lost everything they own. It doesn’t do enough to fund mitigation efforts so this type of flooding doesn’t happen again. It doesn’t do enough to help local businesses reopen and protect American jobs.

Rather than spend money on disaster relief funding, the continuing resolution continues funding for the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA), and it continues $300 million in annual funding to the Title X family planning program, a prime funding source for Planned Parenthood.

Because the continuing resolution does not include adequate funding for disaster relief, I voted against it.

When disaster strikes anywhere in the world, the United States is the first country to help rebuild. But now that a disaster occurred right here in our own backyard, we need to start rebuilding here, first. Let’s help Americans first.

My friend McGruff points out that he joined with Democrats to reject budget games to get people who were flooded the help they need now. Even Senator Pat Toomey decided he had enough and joined with other GOP Senators from states that have major damage from Hurricaine Irene and Tropical Storm Lee to provide disaster relief.

It's disgusting that the Congress is even delaying disaster relief so they can play political games. Many people in the House and Senate didn't worry about offsets to fund the wars in the middle east. As Dick Cheney once said "Deficits Don't Matter" unless a Democrat is in the White House.

Head for the hills

I am amazed by some of the comments on this site, other blogs and the newspapers. In short the argument is that you elected to live in the way of danger so don't expect me to pay for your damage when you get wiped out.

By that logic the Wyomimg Valley should be abandoned because of the flood threat, everyone in California should move inland because an earthquake may happen, get away from the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico coastlines as a hurricane or 2 will hit your town. You should move to a safe place in the interior like Joplin, Mo. or Tuscaloosa, Alabama. No wait, they had tornadoes. . How about Portland, OR or Seattle where you drown after falling off your bicycle. The list is endless

There is no place in America that doesn't have a history and threat of a devastating weather event.

I have an idea. There is a national flood insurance program so how about expanding it to national natural disaster insurance. I know my conservative friends would object to a mandate so make it voluntary at first. The insurance pool would be enormous as just about every homeowner and business in the United States would be eligible. It could be administrated by insurance companies to satisfy my Republican friends and the politicians that have been paid off by them.