Inhofe To Oklahomans: Let Them Eat Snow Cones

“You don't want to get something you're not entitled to”—U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe on FEMA’s decision to deny the state’s citizens financial assistance for last month’s ice storm.

"I am not the person that is just going to jump on a bandwagon and say, 'Hey, let's just give everybody money.’ I want to make sure we only help those who need it with federal dollars and we scrutinize it.”—U.S. Rep. John Sullivan on the FEMA decision.

Where in the world is Oklahoma’s congressional delegation when you need it to actually do something?

People here suffered heavy uninsured losses from last month’s devastating ice storm, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency has ruled the state does not qualify for assistance. The decision left Gov. Brad Henry’s office “dumfounded,” according to a spokesperson, who pointed to the 13,000 damage reports filed after the storm.

Yet the Republican Inhofe, Oklahoma’s senior senator, told a Tulsa radio station there was not enough damage to qualify for FEMA help. He also claimed people have been given enough assistance. In other words, Oklahomans with severe property damage will have to tough it out.

Another Republican, U.S. Rep. John Sullivan, told the Tulsa World “careful scrutiny” is needed when it comes to helping people who suffered heavy damages, according to a media report.

Essentially, unless someone steps up, the state’s congressional delegation is once again doing nothing for Oklahomans. Sure, the state gets to boast it is home to conservative ideologues and blowhards like Inhofe and U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, but forget about them actually doing anything for the state when it needs help.

This is a perfect example of how Oklahomans continue to vote against their own interests. It is simply bewildering that so many of the state’s residents do not think they are good enough to elect representatives who will actually help them during a crisis or work for better wages and health coverage. The next ice storm may do $20,000 damage to YOUR house. Will your homeowner insurance cover it?

The storm killed 29 people, knocked out power to 640,000 homes and businesses, and some 13,000 damage reports have been filed, according to the governor’s office, but Inhofe wants to deny the state help. He will go out of his way to help big energy companies gouge consumers for profits, of course, but he will not raise a finger to help Oklahomans repair their homes because of a freak storm.

Fortunately, the state has a wonderful, competent governor who will fight the decision, and maybe other leaders in the state’s Democratic Party—U.S. Rep. Dan Boren certainly comes to mind—can also pressure FEMA to change its decision. But with the eccentric Inhofe claiming Oklahomans are not “entitled” to get help from a controversial, politicized federal agency, it will be an uphill battle.