Joplin, Missouri — completely leveled by a tornado yesterday — can only get disaster relief if the president agrees to Eric Cantor’s demand that funds be offset by budget cuts. There is nothing “conservative,” patriotic, or even financially prudent here; Cantor is holding Joplin hostage to the GOP’s ongoing budget hackery.
The estimated cost of rebuilding Joplin is $3 billion, which is less federal money than it costs to subsidize one oil company for a few months. Cantor has no problem maintaining the welfare of Exxon at taxpayer expense, but balks at relieving Americans in a “flyover state.” He should be required to explain these priorities to the people of Missouri in person; I’m sure they have a very different idea about the proper role of government in their lives.
If Republicans keep this up, Americans might actually remember why they used to vote for Democrats.
