Who could say N.J. needs less FEMA aid?


By David Chmiel/NJ.comThe Star-Ledger
on December 20, 2012 at 8:17 AM, updated December 20, 2012 at 9:32 AM




Indiana Senator Dan Coats says New Jersey doesn't need as much FEMA money as Governor Christie says. What do you think?File Photo

How can Dan Coats say N.J. needs less FEMA aid?
He can't. He's playing politics.
He lives in Indiana. We don't matter to him.
If he doesn't have enough specifics, get him detailed financials.
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According to a story in The Record, U.S. Senator Dan Coats, a Republican from Indiana, introduced amendments to slash FEMA post-Sandy funding for New Jersey and New York from $60 billion to $28.3 billion. Coats said claims of damage from the states are "not substantiated."

Among the cuts, funding would be eliminated for beach restoration and transportation improvements to prevent future storms from wreaking havoc on the state. intended to help areas hit by Sandy better withstand future storms. Coats said he wants money to get to the states by the end of the year, but his moves make it virtually impossible for any decision to be made by the end of the lame-duck session.

How did he come to that conclusion? By talking to Governor Chris Christie or New York Governor Andrew Cuomo? Coats said Christie called Wednesday but he didn't have time to get back to him. By studying the battered landscapes and running the numbers? Nope.

U.S. senators Frank Lautenberg and Bob Menendez expressed outrage by Coats, who said his cuts have the approval of Mitch McConnell, the influential Republican from Kentucky. A poll today shows that New Jerseyans have never been more in love with our home state. So, what do you have to say to Dan Coats? Vote in our poll and leave a comment (and please, let's not get so 'Jersey Strong' with your comments that we have to take them down).

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/12/poll_can_nj_survive_on_29b_fro.html