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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPresident Biden says Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick delayed federal Beryl aid
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-weather/hurricanes/article/biden-says-greg-abbott-dan-patrick-delayed-19563648.phpNo paywall link
https://archive.li/FbF8j
President Joe Biden said Tuesday that the federal government had to delay distribution of emergency relief supplies, including power generators, after Hurricane Beryl hit Texas because the White House could not reach state leaders to get the major disaster declaration request needed to release them.
Bidens comments come as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is serving as acting governor while Greg Abbott is on an economic development trip in Asia. The president said in an exclusive interview with the Houston Chronicle that he had been trying to track down the governor to get the necessary requests to release the federal aid, which includes manpower and supplies.
A White House spokesperson said officials tried to reach Abbott and Patrick multiple times. Abbotts office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
I've been trying to track down the governor to see I don't have any authority to do that without a specific request from the governor, Biden said. The president said he called immediately to get a disaster declaration request from the state, but did not connect with Patrick until Tuesday afternoon, when he ultimately issued the declaration. He did not provide more details on his attempts to connect with Abbott or Patrick.
*snip*
PuraVidaDreamin
(4,219 posts)Can you believe how these republicans treat the people of Texas?
It's crimes against humanity
Skittles
(157,739 posts)they don't give a DAMN about the people of Texas
rubbersole
(8,254 posts)From Cancun.
Skittles
(157,739 posts)they're all just disgusting beyond belief
usonian
(13,126 posts)F--- You Joe, and slammed it down before they realized ...
Oh
It's their own damn cellphones that they broke.
malaise
(277,077 posts)Rec
Bev54
(11,785 posts)dlk
(12,231 posts)And, no doubt, bragged about owning the libs. They are the worst sadists. Maybe one day, enough Texans will wise up to give them the boot.
Paladin
(28,699 posts)Prof. Toru Tanaka
(2,237 posts)that older people like him would be willing to get COVID and perhaps die because staying home and following precautions to keep COVID from spreading would be bad for the economy.
Mersky
(5,124 posts)It was obvious yesterday before 10am on Monday that a disaster declaration was needed. Or hey, overnight when it strengthened to a Cat 1.
The weird thing about Beryl is that it maintained wind velocity far inland. The storms momentum should have made him pick up the phone and do the right thing YESTERDAY.
catrose
(5,222 posts)Not that there weren't other problems with delivering aid, but at least people and supplies were moving toward LA as fast as possible. 2M Texans are sitting here without power and the selected officials are occupied elsewhere.
Mersky
(5,124 posts)When it was originally forecast to go in closer to Corpus Christi as a tropical storm that should have been enough to request aid. But then, when it shifted to towards Matagorda Bay, and expected to travel towards Brenham, that too, should have been enough. Finally, on Monday morning when it became evident that Beryl was slamming the greater Houston area with a significant, prolonged wind event, stupid Dan should have picked up the phone and called the White House.
Dan Patrick is petty, mean, irresponsible, and undeserving of his post. Nonetheless, he got his photo op plastered on local news stations for days in the lead up. Its all theatrics with these fascists.
slightlv
(4,108 posts)Am I understanding that right? I've got lupus brain and things aren't going in and coming out in a normal way right now. Why do I not have trouble believing this is what they did? Are there any good people in the TX state legislature? Why isn't Paxton in jail yet?
summer_in_TX
(3,098 posts)Cronyism and favoritism (Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Republican State Senators didn't convict Paxton in his impeachment trial). Mystifying why the feds haven't pressed charges. I believe I remember that Paxton finally settled one of the cases against him (the SEC fraud ones, I think).
catrose
(5,222 posts)He could be delivering food, water, and fans, but I am sure he's got a cashier service lined up.
Theyd been talking to FEMA. Stuff was prepositioned. Plus the state has assets.
Abbott was in Asia. Patrick was acting gov. Like the local power company, you don't know what you need until you know what you need.
My power came on early this afternoon. I'm not that far from a company maintenance facility. They're just now doing serious prioritization of needs and where to deploy the 11,000 workers brought in to help. Predictions were it would go west of Houston by 20-30 miles. The eastern eye-wall went over downtown. Instead of Houston being 20-30 miles from the center, it was the center. (That bit of joy went over where I live. Explains my roof and downed fencing.
Make requests on Sunday based on forecast, it would have been wrong. (As it is, the power company staged materiel right in the storm's path.)
One thing I noticed yesterday. Two hours after the high winds were past, people called in to the radio talk host, "Why haven't they fixed the power lines yet?" As the company explained, computers say the circuit that's out, but not where or why. People were demanding great things of others, not even basic minimal patience from themselves.
Evolve Dammit
(18,288 posts)TasminCat
(97 posts)nattyice
(339 posts)Reminder that Texans can elect a new governor in 2026.
niyad
(118,969 posts)pwb
(12,144 posts)Or send some jobs to Texas, we only pay $7.25 an hour to our own people.
niyad
(118,969 posts)Igel
(35,979 posts)LW1977
(1,365 posts)Bakerboy17
(19 posts)Biden is immune. Send them the aid without Patrick's approval. Help our countrymen. Show them who Biden really is and ram it down their throats.
Comfortably_Numb
(4,071 posts)I know its a hurricane but damn, our electric infrastructure sucks donkey nut sweat.
OAITW r.2.0
(27,914 posts)and assume wealthier folks will figure non-state solutions to survive.
Comfortably_Numb
(4,071 posts)As you may guess, Im a Houston area liberal who wouldnt piss on Abbott, Paxton, or Patrick if they were on fire. I would watch though and spend the time taunting their worthless asses..
Scalded Nun
(1,327 posts)They'll try to blame the feds for this.
Patrick was probably hiding somewhere (maybe in his little pick-up truck), looking to further sabotage any/every thing so he can blame abbott a/o the feds (Biden)...or both.
I am so glad we got out that that fucking state last year. Those incompetent assholes couldn't lead a turd down the toilet.
Initech
(101,482 posts)And for that, Abbott and Patrick can go get royally fucked. Fuck them, and fuck Fox News for installing them.
DFW
(56,279 posts)They may be Republicans, but even they are not going to escape to Cancún in the middle of the summer. Come ON now!