One House Republican has blocked the quick passage of a disaster relief bill as victims of hurricanes, floods, and wildfires will have to wait until after a congressional recess for a full vote to be held.
Roll Call reported, “Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said he’d block a unanimous consent request to pass a $19.1 billion supplemental appropriations bill for victims of hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, and other disasters, stalling final action until after the Memorial Day recess.
Even in the House minority, Republicans are finding ways to harm disaster victims. Republicans started their war on disaster relief after Hurricane Sandy, and it has continued to impact anything that involves blue states in the years since. The Senate passed the bill 85-9. Trump said that he would sign the bill. The only thing stopping disaster victims from getting aid is one lone House Republican.
Under Trump, Republicans have expanded the attack to include non-white citizens like Puerto Ricans.
There is no valid public policy reason to block the unanimous consent passage of this bill. A recorded vote isn’t going to change anything, and it isn’t like supporting disaster relief is going to be a black mark against House Democrats in the 2020 election.
It is an obstruction for the sake of obstruction and an indication that House Republicans have learned nothing from the blue wave of 2018. If they ever get the House majority back, they will return to their non-governing obstructionist ways.
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Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
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