Subject: Ten years after Katrina, the GOP hasn't learned much
From: DNC Press <[email-masked]>
To: DNC Press <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2015 18:48:31 +0000

<http://factivists.democrats.org/ten-years-after-katrina-the-gop-hasnt-learned-much/>

Ten years ago today, the Gulf Coast was ravaged by one of the worst hurricanes in U.S. history. Today, climate change continues to remain the greatest threat to our future and future generations. The effects of climate change are already being felt across the nation<http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/>. Extreme weather events - from more severe droughts and wildfires in the West to record heat waves to rising sea levels are putting those across the country at risk. In fact, 14 of the 15 warmest years have all occurred in the last 15 years - with July 2015 as the hottest month of the hottest year on record<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/08/17/july-was-likely-earths-warmest-month-in-whats-destined-to-be-earths-warmest-year/>.

But Republicans running for president refuse to listen. They continue to deny that climate change exists, and some have irresponsibly voted to cut funding to the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA). Here's where they stand:

On climate change:

*         Jeb Bush called the belief of man-made climate science "intellectual arrogance<http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/05/20/jeb-bush-the-climate-is-changing/>."

*         Marco Rubio disputed<http://factivists.democrats.org/marco-rubio-climate-science-denier/> the fact that humans contribute to climate change.

*         Donald Trump called climate change a "hoax<http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/donald-trump-believe-candidate-stands-10-issues/>."

  *   John Kasich said climate change is "some theory that's not proven<http://www.nationaljournal.com/2016-elections/john-kasich-climate-change-20150809?ref=t.co&mrefid=walkingheader>."

  *   Scott Walker backed an extreme Koch Brother's<http://host.madison.com/news/local/writers/steven_elbow/scott-walker-among-signers-of-koch-backed-no-climate-tax/article_6b078010-1304-58a9-8e80-ea384a251c33.html> pledge that vowed to oppose certain climate change legislation and has led to congressional inaction<http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/koch-pledge-tied-to-congressional-climate-inaction>.

  *   Rand Paul questions whether or not climate change is man-made or not. In his words, "there is some question as to the validity of the science<http://www.kentucky.com/2010/03/15/1182056/us-senate-candidates-fighting.html>."

  *   Chris Christie got rid of New Jersey's Office of Climate Change, slashed clean energy programs, and said that we need more science to prove climate change is man-made<http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/18/nyregion/christie-takes-conservatism-beyond-fiscal-issues.html> -even though 97% of climate scientists agree it is.

  *   Ted Cruz said there has been no global warming whatsoever<http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/cruz-global-warming-gm-food-labeling-115857.html> over the last 17 years.

  *   Bobby Jindal questioned the role<http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/bobby-jindal-s-soft-climate-change-skepticism-20140916> humans play in climate change (which he refers to as a "Trojan Horse<http://www.politico.com/story/2014/09/bobby-jindal-white-house-science-deniers-111003.html?hp=l2>") and called on the U.S. to withdraw from climate talks led by the United Nations.

  *   Rick Perry is a proclaimed skeptic of climate change, claiming that there's not enough evidence<http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/177323-perry-faces-some-jeers-pointed-questions-in-nh-appearance> to prove it's man-made and said it was "all one contrived phony mess.".<http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/aug/12/rick-perry-climate-sceptics-president>

On disaster preparedness:

*         Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and Marco Rubio all voted against emergency disaster relief funding<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00004> for communities hit by Hurricane Sandy, but requested funding when their home states of Texas<http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/federal-disaster-aid-me-not-the>, Kentucky<http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Senators_McConnell_and_Paul_Express_Support_for_Kentuckys_Request_for_Disaster_Assistance_from_the_Department_of_Agriculture_121627304.html>, and Florida<http://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=a8bc4191-0575-4cbb-9d78-11b807cb403e> were in need of disaster relief.

*         Rand Paul delayed passage of a crucial flood insurance package<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/26/rand-paul-fetal-personhood-flood-insurance_n_1628128.html> in an attempted failed scheme to attack women's health.

*         Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio supported the Ryan budget, which slashed FEMA funding by 22 percent<http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1012/83074.html>.  Rand Paul thought it was "too tepid."<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/29/rand-paul-paul-ryan-budget_n_1840121.html>

*         Jeb Bush also said he "absolutely<http://www.hulu.com/watch/368827>" believed the Ryan Budget was "a starting point."

*         After Hurricane Katrina hit, Jeb Bush lobbied Michael "Heck of a Job" Brown for a $236 million federal contract<http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2014-12-29/jeb-bush-and-the-making-of-a-236-million-federal-contract> for a Republican donor to assist with disaster relief. The project was called a "boondoggle."

*         Rick Perry "quietly outsourced the management of more than $1 billion in federal disaster recovery funds<http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/state-outsourced-allocation-of-federal-disaster--1/nRf39/>" to an engineering firm with "close ties" to his administration."

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