Financial and Political Challenges for FEMA
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-09-01/financial-and-political-challenges-fema
In the wake of Hurricane Irene, Northeasterners are dealing with record floods. Hundreds of thousands of people are still without power. And throughout the region, at least 45 people have died. Hurricane Irene's impact will be felt for months and years to come. And it has also put the Federal Emergency Management Agency back in the spotlight. Representative Ron Paul renewed demands for the agency to shut down. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor called for any future FEMA funding to be offset by spending cuts. A look at the fiscal and political challenges facing FEMA.
Guests
Ed O'Keefe
author of The Federal Eye blog and federal government reporter for The Washington Post.
Dan Mitchell
senior fellow at the Cato Institute
Jane Bullock
former chief of staff, FEMA
Sen. Bernie Sanders
Independent U. S. senator from Vermont
Comments
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Diane, I heard one of your guests criticize Romney for wanting to shift the responsibility fro the Federal government (FEMA) commenting that he didn't think that to do so would offer the same guaranty of cost containment, assurance of availability and effective placement of assets. Your following comment indicated that you agreed with his premise.
First, let me say that the Federal government does not physically do anything, they hire it done and, in the process, the record discloses fraud, waste and abuse in almost every instance. When it comes to efficiency, getting the job done and being able to account for every dollar, the last entity I would rely upon would be the Federal government or any agency that is entrusted with that responsibility.