by Thomas Baldwin, January 9, 2013
Biloxi, MS
Steven Palazzo’s vote against the first stage in basic aid to Hurricane Sandy’s victims really got to me. I was outraged as a citizen of Biloxi, MS, his home town and so were many of his constituents. Although I have significantly different political views this vote really went beyond the bounds of decency and compassion.
As everyone will recall, Hurricane Katrina, the worst natural disaster in U.S. history in 2005 devastated much of New Orleans and the coastline of Mississippi. It may have been twice the size of Sandy. It was met by huge support for recovery by the rest of the nation including public support by the U.S. government and by an enormous generosity of private citizen groups across the country including many from the northern states. Any of us who lived through this, as Mr. Palazzo certainly did, will clearly recall this.
Most of the people of Mississippi certainly remember and were grateful for the support we received. Mr. Palazzo’s memory apparently only lasts for as long as his recent election where he was invited again to become a part of the radical right of the Republican Party. Unfortunately, due to the ineptness of the Democratic Party in the south, particularly Mississippi, there was no legitimate opposition to his reelection.
So when needed and required to give support to another part of the country what does this Jerk do? He votes “no” because there are no “offsets” for these expenditures. Yet, he supports a 600 billion dollar defense bill with few if any questions and he supports subsidies to the fossil fuel industry with no questions. I cannot restrain my feelings in calling these kinds of elected people what they need to be called: SCUMBAGS.
Let me tell you. People in different parts of this nation will not forget this. My friends in NY are outraged as they should be. Christie the Republican Governor of NJ was outraged and Rep. King of NY was outraged, both strong Republicans. People in northern states are quite aware that they are paying more than their average share into the national treasury to support states like Mississippi who are deriving tremendous benefits from the national government, at least twice what they pay in.
But the ignorant population of this state keeps voting to bite the hand that feeds them! And Mr. Palazzo “represents” one of the worst!! He represents only his own special interests and those of his corporate sponsors. I am embarrassed by his vote and wish to apologize for those across the nation, particularly those in the northeast. Mr. Palazzo has decided to “recover” by being appointed for the person by visiting the afflicted areas in NJ and NY for disaster recovery for the Republican Party. For gosh sakes, he got himself appointed by Eric Cantor, Republican Leader, as the “point person” for disaster recovery in the nation. What else is a retarded Representative supposed to do? God help us all with representatives like this!
I am totally embarrassed by his actions and wish to apologize from myself and others from MS for those across the nation, particularly those in the northeast.
Here are the printed articles locally which give strength to my position and you can decide for yourself what you think about Mr. Palazzo’s atrocious behavior:
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Gulf Coast Lawmaker Votes AgainstSandy Relief
Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-MS), whose Mississippi district is situated on the Gulf Coast, was one of 67 Republicans on Friday to vote against a $9.7 billion relief package to victims of Hurricane Sandy.
Mississippi’s Fourth Congressional District, which Palazzo has represented since 2011, includes the city of Biloxi, one of the most heavily damaged communities in the region by Hurricane Katrina. Congress quickly passed an initial $10.5 billion relief package in the immediate aftermath of Katrina in September of 2005. Palazzo’s predecessor, former Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS), supported that legislation.
The Sandy relief legislation passed overwhelmingly on Friday, with the only “no” votes coming from Republican members.
Palazzo’s office did not immediately respond to TPM’s requests for comment.
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Palazzo votes no on $9.7 billion Sandy relief measure
Published: January 4, 2013 Updated 11 hours ago
Says spending cuts should offset cost of hurricane disaster recovery efforts
By ANITA LEE — calee@sunherald.com
U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo said he is working with his staff on legislation to cut spending, and plans to reach out to other congress members for support, so the next bill for Hurricane Sandy relief will include spending cuts to offset the cost.
Palazzo was one of 67 Republican House members Friday to oppose $9.7 billion in funding to cover National Flood Insurance Program losses from Sandy, which passed with 354 votes in support. Another $50.3 billion in disaster relief will be sought later this month.
In a telephone interview Friday evening, Palazzo said he believes the time is right for a national discussion about change in the way America funds disasters, including the debt-ridden National Flood Insurance Plan.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/04/4388269/palazzo-says-congress-needs-courage.html#storylink=cpy
Palazzo sought millions in Katrina relief for Biloxi Housing Authority
Published: January 6, 2013 Updated 11 hours ago
SUN HERALD FILE PHOTO Ky Hoang walks down an East Biloxi, Miss., street littered with debris from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. As chief financial officer of the Biloxi Housing Authority, Palazzo sought millions in recovery funds from Congress. Now a U.S. representative, Palazzo was one of 67 House Republicans to vote Friday against Sandy funding without spending offsets.
PATRICK SCHNEIDER
- STORY PHOTOS:
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By ANITA LEE — calee@sunherald.com
BILOXI — U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo says he voted against funding to pay the Hurricane Sandy flood insurance claims because of the deficit, but as the chief financial officer for the Biloxi Public Housing Authority back in 2005, Palazzo asked for federal relief despite the nation’s debt.
The Housing Authority listed $38.5 million in “Total Funds Needed Right Away” in a handout published one month after Katrina devastated 70 miles of Mississippi’s coastline Aug. 29, 2005.
The handout quoted Palazzo, then the authority’s deputy director and chief financial officer: “Tell our national leaders — don’t send more inspectors — we know what’s damaged and how to fix it. Send us money so we can put our families back together and do our part to rebuild our community.”
The handout is still posted on its web site.
Public housing relief in Mississippi eventually totaled $110 million for Mississippi’s three Coastal counties. Harrison County, where Palazzo is from, received $72 million in funding for public housing alone, according to figures compiled in 2010 by the office of former U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor, whom Palazzo defeated to take office in 2011 with an anti-Nancy Pelosi message.
Congress poured a total of at least $24.6 billion into direct Mississippi Katrina relief, Sun Herald archives show, in large part because of the efforts of Republican Sen. Thad Cochran, who then headed the Appropriations Committee, and then-Gov. Haley Barbour, former head of the Republican National Committee.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/06/4389963/palazzo-sought-millions-in-katrina.html#emlnl=Morning_Update#storylink=cpy
South Mississippi’s Palazzo says he’ll be ‘point person’ on disaster-relief reform
Published: January 8, 2013
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/08/4395325/south-mississippis-palazzo-says.html#storylink=cpy
Congressman says he’ll be ‘point person’ on disaster-relief reform
By ANITA LEE — calee@sunherald.com
U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo toured areas of the Jersey shore and Staten Island for the first time to view Sandy hurricane damage Tuesday, after the backlash over his vote against funding for the National Flood Insurance Program last week.
Palazzo said he wanted to reassure colleagues in the House he supports disaster aid, to express sympathy on Mississippi’s behalf to those suffering in Sandy’s aftermath, to share lessons learned here from Hurricane Katrina and to continue the discussion on disaster relief reform.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor today encouraged Palazzo to become a “point man on disaster relief reform” as major storms become more frequent and costly, the Mississippi congressman said. Palazzo was recently appointed to the Homeland Security Committee, which oversees the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the agency that manages NFIP.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/08/4395325/south-mississippis-palazzo-says.html#storylink=cpy
