Many Residents of Florida are in a state of shock after Hurricane Ian cut a swath of destruction hundreds of miles wide across the Florida peninsula. But Mat Gaetz is so determined to slash government services (to please his big donors). Apparently Mat Gaetz’s doctrinaire rigidity is more important to him than Hurricane Ian’s millions of victims across Florida.
Just days after Hurricane Ian ravaged his home state, Representative Matt Gaetz was one of many Republicans to vote against a stopgap measure that would continue funding the government and provide billions of dollars in extra disaster assistance.
The House of Representatives approved a continuing resolution on Friday, giving the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) the ability to spend through the Disaster Relief Fund, freeing up $15 million more in aid for disaster relief. Only 10 Republicans voted for the measure, two days after a Category 4 hurricane barreled through Florida, killing dozens and causing billions in economic damage.
Gaetz indicated he'd vote against funding to benefit government agencies earlier this week. He joined dozens of his colleagues in signing a letter that they would "do what is necessary" to prevent additional funding for the Biden administration.
The House's passage of the bill follows the Senate passing the bill with 25 Republicans supporting the measure. The bill will now go to President Joe Biden's desk to be signed.
Republicans have little interest in providing good governance in a time of urgent need. They’d rather expend all their energy trying to offend the “woke” than helping the folks back home recover from a major disaster.