Eric Cantor On 'Face The Nation': Disaster Relief For Joplin Tornado Victims Must Be Offset (VIDEO)

On Sunday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) reiterated his position that disaster relief funds for the tornado victims in Joplin, Missouri must be paid for with cuts to other programs. "Congress will find the money," Cantor said on CBS' “Face the Nation” "And it will be offset."

"I know that America is just stunned by the scope of devastation and loss and the horrific tragedy that the people of Joplin and other places across the country really are experiencing this tornado season," Cantor said. The federal government typically pays for disaster relief, but Cantor has said repeatedly that the government must maintain fiscal discipline. On Sunday, he compared the situation to that of a family putting off buying a new car when a family member became ill.
"When a family is struck with tragedy -- like the family of Joplin ... let's say if they had $10,000 set aside to do something else with, to buy a new car ... and then they were struck with a sick member of the family or something, and needed to take that money to apply it to that, that's what they would do, because families don't have unlimited money. And, really, neither does the federal government."

WATCH:

Democratic lawmakers from districts hit by the storms have blasted Republicans for talking about the need to pay for an emergency package, HuffPost's Jennifer Bendery reported:

"Where is his heart?" Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-Mo.) said of Cantor. "Where is his compassion for people who are suffering today?"

"If they want to fight and quibble over the supplemental, I mean, they are heartless. What's wrong with them?" Clay said. "Nothing for the average American community. That's what they're saying: we don't have anything for the average American community."

Comments

[KenGirard]

05:22 PM on 07/01/2011

Can we offset it by cutting the mortgage intrest tax deduction after $4k/year?
Or what about making a new tax rate of 37.5% on all income over $500k, and 40% on all income over $1million?
Or even just not buy a couple of fighter jets?

[kraven1957]

01:30 PM on 06/23/2011

This is the Ayn Rand Ideology. We are not responsible or obligated to help.

[behavingbadly]

11:36 AM on 06/23/2011

I'm sure if someone in his family needed a transfusion, he'd first have them sign over one of their kidneys. The man has the compassion of a yeast infection.

[Blurryace]

09:13 AM on 06/03/2011

Just when I thought I couldn't like you less. You've outdone yourself Cantor.

[SansCulottes08]

04:32 PM on 06/02/2011

The two counties surrounding Joplin are "Democrat-free" in that all the officeholders
in the Jasper and Newton county courthouses, and the local legislative
delegations, are Republicans, according to John Putnam, chairman of the Jasper
County Republican Central Committee.

No doubt the Republican citizens of Joplin would agree with Eric Cantor - they would be delighted to know that any federal funds that are used to help their Republican community automatically means there will be a corresponding reduction of federal funds being used to help out others, such as sick children being denied Medicaid, or hungry children being denied food stamps.

Instead of asking for federal handouts and whining about their misfortunes, the Republican citizens of Joplin should pick themselves up by their own bootstraps and take care of their own problems.

[FreeAmerican7]

09:27 PM on 06/02/2011

or they can apply for FOREIGN AID that Rep-Eric Cantor will be very happy to offset from POOR AFRICANS AIDS Sufferers but NOT Israel where his is so LOYAL to her BOSS Bibi the FOREIGNER who got so many STANDING OVATIONS more than the President of the USA!

[AN2009]

06:56 AM on 06/04/2011

Yeah. It's mind blowing that Eric Cantor would prefer to help Israelis but not his fellow Americans. His priorities are seriously out of order. Just disgraceful.

[marnieca]

12:37 PM on 06/02/2011

Wow! and I thought Paul Ryan was the Democrat's secret weapon for re-election. Cantor can't be stupid but he really is trying too hard to kiss Tea Party Patootie here. Of course, he might just be following party lines and think poor people don't matter. Well they may not have your money Eric but they have brains and memory and 2012 isn't that far away.

[FreeAmerican7]

09:32 PM on 06/02/2011

"...poor people don't matter...."
but they vote REPUBLICANS so that they save on TAXES
after they win the Mega Millions/ PowerBall Lotteries!

[judithkorff]

06:33 AM on 06/02/2011

What a stupid analogy to make - new car versus critical illness. Haven't any of these guys ever been poor? Don't they understand that it's NEVER a case of weighing options like a new car or helping a sick family member. For many (most?) of us, it's a case of weighing equally horrible options: help a sick family member or repair an aging car that's necessary for us to continue working. Buy a new car? Who can afford a new car? We can barely keep the old one running! Yet without that car, we don't work. So where's the option for us, Eric? For us, to use a more appropriate analogy, the choice is between risking the loss of our job, and letting our kid die. You think our 'extra' money goes for vacations? Get real! Like choosing between new cars and critical illnesses, choosing between helping disaster-stricken communities and slashing federal aid to needy families is a non-starter, Eric. The Feds have to do what poor people REALLY do in emergencies - take on a second job (or in this case, raise taxes!). Duh!

[coveark]

10:52 PM on 06/02/2011

Fanned Judith...........I so agree.

[Jas Conley]

01:16 AM on 06/02/2011

Response to disasters is no longer a government response but rather a government funded response (read tax payer funded). Haliburton and many other "off shore" disaster capitalist corporations are ready and waiting for the next disaster to strike. Your loss is their gain. Double: the loss in any disaster and the draining of our tax dollars to multi-national corporations paying no taxes in the US.

[Jas Conley]

12:57 AM on 06/02/2011

"Cantor has said repeatedly that the government must maintain fiscal discipline. On Sunday, he compared the situation to that of a family putting off buying a new car when a family member became ill." I couldn't agree more...............Let's roll back those tax cuts for the rich! We can no longer afford them.

[Joe Villanova]

12:31 AM on 06/02/2011

"Cantor speaking honestly = No - we can't help you rebuild unless you let us take away your medicare to pay for the end of corporate taxes and more tax breaks for billionaires. Yes we know medicare is already fixed by the health care reform act, but we hate Americans who are not millionaires so go to hell."

[gevan]

12:18 PM on 06/01/2011

Tax cuts for the rich can increase the commisions of auction houses who will then spend their money of a variety of things which may create a few jobs here or there. Cantor must be offset by a human being in the Republican majority if they can find one.

[coveark]

10:56 PM on 06/02/2011

Just replace him with another party and nothing to do with tea. His thinking is unforgivable.

[Mammut]

11:40 AM on 06/01/2011

The GOP is whiping it's bottom on traditionally GOP voting states. It must be true that the Republicans are trying to Sabbotage their own party once and for all!!!!!!!!

[Jen880]

10:13 AM on 06/01/2011

Is Cantor/GOP tone and message really articulating actual care/concerns for the Joplin’s people? Fiscal responsibility is every official’s responsibility but is it really necessary at this time to ensure GOP gains/points are part of the negotiation to provide help to Joplin? Interesting video and more interesting body language…

[Taxim]

04:35 AM on 06/01/2011

Can't this easily be offset by reducing air to Israel. Surely Cantor could work that out with his sponsors.

[katyland]

08:54 AM on 06/01/2011

it could be very easy to offset , let the arabs fund their own spring and use that 20mill fo desaster victimes,,

[Talab]

08:20 PM on 06/01/2011

While we are at it could we offset that stone in his chest with an actual beating heart and offset his place in the congress with a human being

[coveark]

10:59 PM on 06/02/2011

That is a good idea. Perhaps there are body snatchers.

[rbrain]

11:46 PM on 05/31/2011

Hear hear for Cantor... i support offsetting the Joplin aid money by taking it out of the scandalous Bush tax cut for rich piggies. I proudly support offsetting the Joplin aid money by cutting a fighter jet, or nuclear powered sub, or additional carrier strike force out of defense. Cantor's right, we should cut low priority items in order to take care of our hard hit fellow citizens....

where's the sarcasm font?