Mitt Romney on climate change, natural disasters, and the role of government
Click to viewYou know, I watched him say during his nomination acceptance speech at the RNC, "President Obama promised to begin to slow the rise of the oceans and to heal the planet. My promise ... is to help you and your family." I noted the smirk and the eye-rolling as he said it. And at the time, I ranted at the television about how working on these things IS part of helping American families. Do you know how many Americans live along a coastline? Let NOAA tell you: Coastal areas are home to a wealth of natural and economic resources and are the most developed areas in the nation. The narrow fringe comprising 17 percent of the contiguous U.S. land area is home to [53 percent] of the nation's population.
Between the years 1980 and 2003, population in coastal counties increased by 33 million people or by 28 percent. The largest gain was seen in the Pacific region. Additionally, in 2003, 23 of the 25 most densely populated counties were in coastal areas.
By the year 2008, coastal county population was expected to increase by approximately seven million.
So, it looks like Romney only wants to help 47% of Americans. No, not that 47% percent. The 47% that live further inland than 50 miles. Because that's the REAL AMERICA. Or something. I guess.
Now think back to a year ago, when he dismissed the idea that FEMA was useful to maintain at the federal level (and how he reversed himself AGAIN a day after Hurricane Sandy smashed into the eastern seaboard). And then think back to when he was governor of Massachusetts. In the spring of 2004, areas of the north shore (Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk Counties) were flooded by heavy rains. Gov. Romney asked then-President Bush to declare those counties disaster areas. Later that year, the state legislature proposed to spend $5.7 million on flood prevention projects, which would have been matched by $22 million in federal dollars...AND HE VETOED IT.
In October 2005 the Green River flooded due to heavy rains and inundated the town of Greenfield, MA. The mayor of Greenfield didn't hear from Romney for three days, because why? Because Mitt was busy traveling to other states (and probably dissing Massachusetts in his speeches, as was his wont). Even when he returned to the state, he was largely indifferent to Greenfield's plight, and only waited until another part of the state was flooded before declaring a state of emergency and applying for FEMA aid.
Then, in May 2006, there were major floods in places like Melrose, near Boston. The person who called in FEMA and spoke to the mayor of Melrose? That was Sen. Ted Kennedy, not Gov. Romney.
This, folks, is Mitt Romney's record on natural disasters, on shoring up infrastructure (or not, as the case may be), and the role of government in helping citizens. Just so you know.
Sources:
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/population.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/29/mitt-romney-disaster-response-massachusetts-_n_2041142.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/30/mitt-romney-flooding_n_2042886.htm