Long term rebuilding assistance could be an issue following Sandy
Posted at: 10/31/2012 6:37 PM
By: Bill Lambdin
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Although there is no question about immediate Federal aid to the region stricken by Hurricane Sandy, longer term rebuilding could be a different issue.
It has been a reality of this campaign that the two candidates running for ongress in the new 21st are almost never in our part of the district at the same time.
That was the case today.
Democrat Bill Owens was in Whitehall. Republican Matt Doheny was in Franklin County, almost in Canada.
Although immediate Federal help is being provided, longer term assistance for rebuilding could be a different issue. That's the way it was last year.
"Well that's how it was when we were dealing with Irene. we had a great deal of difficulty getting additional funding for FEMA during that period," said Owens
Congress already faces major spending issues after the election, even before Sandy upped the ante.
Unless Representatives agree on spending and tax issues that they've been fighting over for several years, automatic, drastic cuts kick in.
That could make future hurricane rebuilding, estimated at a minimum of 20 billion dollars, no sure thing.
