Last month, Democratic lawmakers voted against a supplemental disaster relief bill that would have provided additional funding for cities and communities that are still actively engaged in rebuilding their homes and neighborhoods.
This vote against the relief bill came as a shock to many considering that Democrats have been clamoring for the Trump administration to do more to help in the recovery and clean-up efforts of those struck by Hurricanes Maria and Irma.
This week, Florida Senator Rick Scott (R) and Georgia Senator David Purdue directed a letter at Senate Democrats. According to a tweet posted by Senator Purdue, the letter is meant to urge them “to help us pass disaster relief funding immediately.” Purdue states that “together, we should demonstrate to the American people that in times of natural disasters, Washington can still work.”
.@SenRickScott & I sent a letter to Senate Democrats today urging them to help us pass disaster relief funding immediately. Together, we should demonstrate to the American people that in times of natural disasters, Washington can still work. pic.twitter.com/ixXmdbLco8
— David Perdue (@sendavidperdue) May 6, 2019
Essentially, what the Republican lawmakers argue is that it’s comes down to partisan politics, which is something that voters have grown increasingly tired of.
In the letter, the Republican Senators inform that “it’s been 208 days since Hurricane Michael devastated Florida’s Panhandle and Southwest Georgia and a disaster funding bill is still in limbo.”
While acknowledging that “there’s been some movement in the last few days” to deliver relief, the Senators do stress that partisan politics need to be placed aside to come to an agreement that transcends politics.
Detailing the severity at hand, they describe that “we can’t wait any longer. Our states need to continue repairs on military installations, help communities with debris removal, and support our agricultural communities that were devastated by this storm.”
Concluding the letter, Scott and Purdue call for lawmakers “to work together and get a deal done” that would “push both party’s leaders to bring a bill to the floor.”
“There should be a vote this week,” they assert, but this can only happen if Democrats place politics aside and focus on the interest of the American citizens they were elected to represent.
