OPINION: Some Disasters Really Aren't
Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 9:31AMFrom The Heritage Foundation, I’m Ernest Istook.
The end of November marked the official end of hurricane season. Zero hurricanes struck the USA. The closest was Irene, which was downgraded to a tropical storm before hitting land.
Only two hurricanes have qualified as Major Disasters during President Obama’s time in office. That’s good news.
Yet President Obama has declared 445 federal disasters—about 50% more than President Bush had in the same period of time, and three times more than President Clinton did in the same length of time.
The definition of disaster is being downgraded, so that lesser storms or floods, or minor earthquakes, are being declared federal disasters, unleashing extra billions of federal aid for things that most of us are insured against.
Politicians love to be seen helping people. But do they have to do it so freely with our taxpayer dollarFrom The Heritage Foundation, I’m Ernest Istook.
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