Obama declares emergency for New York in anticipation of Irene

[Douglas Carpenter]

Source: Washington Post

By Associated Press, Saturday, August 27, 7:11 AM

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has declared an emergency for New York state in anticipation of Hurricane Irene, which has New York City in its sights as it storms up the Eastern Seaboard.

The declaration means that the Homeland Security Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency can coordinate disaster relief efforts. It also means the state can receive federal aid to supplement state and local emergency and cleanup assistance.

The declaration is specifically intended to alleviate the threat of a catastrophe in the counties of Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Nassau and Suffolk.

The brunt of the storm is expected to hit the New York City area and Long Island on Sunday.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-declares-emergency-for-new-york-in-anticipation-of-irene/2011/08/26/gIQAIcvpgJ_story.html

[Angry Dragon]

1. cantor says we can not give any money to any state until

there are cuts some where else........
cantor has volunteered to have congress give up all their pay and benefits

[No Elephants]

2. Congressional compensation is Constitutionally protected. After kicking around since

1789, that amendment finally went effective in 1992, becoming the 27th amendment.

The original purpose was to prevent blackmailing Congress over legislation by threatening to reduce their compensation if they did not cooperate. Of course, in 1789, lobbyists weren't around to make sure Congress folk and their families were well taken care of.

Today, their salaries are petty cash for a lot of them, especially in the Senate.

Of course, Cantor may have lost money because he shorted the country he's supposed to be serving during the debt ceiling debacle. (No ethics charges for that massive conflict of interest, either.)

But I digress. Point is, Congressional compensation is safer than Fort Knox.

[Angry Dragon]

3. Then I guess it is time for a new Admendment stating

that Congressional pay will be paid and determined by each individual state based on what they voters think their congresspeople are worth.

No more of these automatic raises that they do not have to vote on

[No Elephants]

5. That would be a good amendment. I don't think Congress would ever pass it, though.

Remember, amendments to our Constitution have to come out of Congress before the states even get to vote on them.

Also, the idea that you could affect a person in Congress's salary because you don't like the way he or she voted is what the Framers were worried about when they first proposed what finally became the 27th amendment.

Automatic raises, on the other hand, are not in the Constitution. We can try to hold our elected official accountable for repealing whatever law first provided for them.

But, holding elected officials accountable takes a lot of work over a sustained period of time. I don't know if Americans are up to that anymore.

[DesertFlower]

4. my friend who has anxieties has

been a wreck since the earthquake. she lives on 20th st. and 1st ave. NYC which is evacuation zone 2. building management has been sending e-mails that they might have flooding. she's going uptown to stay with a friend. her husband is staying in the apartment.

[No Elephants]

6. Meanwhile, Pres. Obama is in Martha's Vineyard, which may be hit as well, though

the storm is expected to lose some of its force as it travels over land from NY.

[lynne]

7. No, he's back in DC or on his way -

- as one of the news machines showed Air Force 1 waiting for him to board to bring him home.

[No Elephants]

8. Thanks. As soon as I posted, I heard a Boston report that he cut his vacation short and was in D.C.

I amended my post, but I had my DU inbox up in another window, so I got one of those warning messages.

[nineteen50]

9. why doesn't he declare unemployment

a national disaster.

[russspeakeasy]

10. I think Chris Christie just shot himself in the foot...

:evilgrin: He thanked Obama for declaring NJ a disaster area...What a traitor to the rethugs...

[harvey007]

11. What about Plum Island?

Is the "Animal Disease" research lab still operating?

http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=19-40-00-00