EDITORIAL: Editorial: Disaster victims deserve relief, not hollow posturing from House Republicans

San Diego Union-Tribune (CA)

June 01-- Jun. 1--On May 23, the Senate passed a $19.1 billion disaster relief bill on a bipartisan 85-8 vote. President Donald Trump has said he will sign the measure. This should be excellent news for victims of devastating wildfires in California, massive flooding in the Midwest, and a series of tornadoes and hurricanes in Dixie Alley in the South.

But on three occasions since the House went on recess last week, procedural attempts to pass the relief bill with a unanimous consent vote failed despite backing from GOP leadership because of objections by a single Republican lawmaker -- first Chip Roy of Texas, then Thomas Massie of Kentucky and most recently, John Rose of Tennessee on Thursday. Among other things, they argue that it's fiscally irresponsible to authorize more federal spending that adds to the national debt.

Yes, it's true that Congress and the Trump administration need to improve on their horrible record on deficit spending. But given that House Republicans overspend as profligately as anyone -- and given that the Democratic-controlled House is sure to pass disaster relief on a roll call vote when it returns from recess next week -- Roy, Massie and Rose are the irresponsible ones in this situation.

If they want to prove they're not just grandstanding, then they should start objecting to the much bigger spending measures the GOP has supported in recent years. Otherwise, all they've done is delay much-needed disaster relief to everyday Americans.

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