In a partisan battle for money, U.S. Congressional Democrats and Republicans might prevent Louisiana from getting any federal flood relief money.
The Republicans in Congress unveiled a short-term spending plan that includes $500 million in flood relief aid to Louisiana, according to The Advocate. This bill would provide immediate and upfront aid to the flood victims.
This bill sounds like a win for the people, and you’d be almost correct in assuming so. But, of course, nothing is simple when it comes to the federal government.
The Democrats in Congress refuse to support said funding bill unless congressional leaders also provide aid for Flint, Michigan. In case you don’t remember, Flint doesn’t have drinkable water because of the lead in its pipes. The people of Flint haven’t had drinkable water since April 2014.
“We are not — I am not — going to support an effort that says to the people of Flint, ‘You don’t count. Your child doesn’t count. We care about the people in Louisiana. They count, but people in Flint, Michigan, don’t,’” U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, said on the Senate floor. “I’m happy to support Louisiana, but the help for Louisiana and the help for Flint need to be done the same.”
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, has a different approach from Stabenow. He wants to pit Louisiana flood victims against Flint residents while trying to blame the Democrats.
“The Democrats have been explicit. They want to link Flint to the flood aid,” Cassidy said, according to The Advocate.
“People want to move forward on [Louisiana flood aid]. There is just no indications yet that the Democrats are ready to — even if that means denying relief to flood victims who are still mucking out their homes,” Cassidy said.
This entire battle is disgusting. Here are two groups of people who desperately need federal assistance because they cannot afford to help themselves, and GOP officials are trying to make this a one-or-the-other situation.
I guess when you do nothing for so long, helping out one group is doable, but helping two communities is outrageous.
We shouldn’t prioritize one community over another. If a group of people needs the federal government’s help, then the government should help it. A community shouldn’t have to wait a year and a half for something as essential as water, and a state shouldn’t have its relief funding threatened over partisan battles.
This entire battle seems to boil down to party affiliation. According to Bay Area Center for Voting Research, Flint was rated the 10th most liberal city in the United States. Meanwhile, we all know which way Louisiana residents lean politically. If you look at Congress, guess which party is fighting for Louisiana and ignoring Flint.
The Democrats in Congress seem to understand that both communities need immediate assistance. The Republicans, on the other hand, are only looking out for themselves.
This battle is disgusting, and everyone trying to ignore Flint’s crisis — or use Louisiana’s crisis to ignore Flint — should be ashamed.
Cody Sibley is a 20-year-old mass communication junior from Opelousas, Louisiana.
Senator Bill Cassidy speaks out on dyslexia Oct. 13, 2015, during a U.S. Senate committee hearing in the Dalton Woods Auditorium.
