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A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 12 april 2019

Infighting stalls disaster aid for Puerto Rico, Southeast

By ANDREW TAYLOR land's Democratic officials year, everyone hurt in Puer-
Associated Press and railed against aid to to Rico, everyone hurt in
WASHINGTON (AP) — Six Puerto Rico at a closed- the middle West, everyone
months after hurricanes door lunch with Senate Re- hurt in Florida."
devastated the Southeast, publicans last month. The cross-party finger point-
Washington infighting has Senate Republicans have ing has been predictable,
shelved a widely backed stuck with the president so but Republicans are also
disaster aid package that far, refusing to add more upset with the White House.
President Donald Trump's funding to help Puerto "Never before have we
allies in Florida and Geor- Rico rebuild its water sys- seen American communi-
gia are desperately seek- tems or help its impover- ties that were wrecked with
ing. ished government with catastrophes neglected
Trump's opposition to aid to more generous disaster aid like this," said Rep. Aus-
Puerto Rico — slammed by terms. Democrats in turn tin Scott, R-Ga., usually a
back-to-back hurricanes filibustered a $14 billion aid Trump loyalist, in a floor
Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y., center, in 2017 — has sparked a package over the issue last speech this week. "To this
steps away from a podium following a Senate policy luncheon standoff with Democrats week, and the measure day, OMB has not even
on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, in Washington. demanding more aid for has languished since. submitted a request for
Associated Press the island U.S. territory. "Typically, when these kinds disaster assistance, calls
Trump is feuding with the is- of things happen we figure to White House staff have
out how to help as much gone unheeded, and but
as possible and do it on for one tweet on April 1, it
an overwhelming biparti- seems the president has
san basis and that's what moved on."
needs to be done now," Frustration is also bubbling
Senate Majority Leader in the Senate, where Trump
Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., allies such as David Per-
told reporters on Thursday. due of Georgia and Rick
"I think we'll get there but it's Scott of Florida — a state
been a little too political in that's crucial to Trump's re-
my opinion." election — are pressuring
Now, both House and Sen- the president to deal. Scott
ate are heading off for a visited with Trump Thursday
two-week Easter recess, at the White House, along
leaving struggling cot- with Senate Appropria-
ton farmers in the South in tions Committee Chairman
limbo at a crucial time for Richard Shelby, R-Ala.
spring planting and failing "We're going to discuss
to ease food stamp cuts in where we are and where
Puerto Rico. we think we might be able
"It's an absolute travesty to go," Shelby said, telling
that this chamber is recess- reporters he was hoping
ing without a compromise to be able to make Demo-
on much-needed funding crats another offer after-
for disaster relief," said Sen- ward. Scott said he had a
ate Minority Leader Chuck "good meeting" and said
Schumer, D-N.Y. "From the he would keep pushing for
start, Democrats have sup- a deal.
ported an all-of-the-above "I'm working with Repub-
approach, help every part licans and Democrats to
of America that's struggling get this done," he said.
from natural disasters. We "The people of Florida and
need to help everyone hurt Puerto Rico can't wait any
last year, everyone hurt this longer."q