Minnesota Monitor
Members of Minnesota's Congressional delegation sent a strongly worded letter Monday to Gov. Tim Pawlenty urging his administration to apply for emergency funds for the 35W bridge collapse -- funds that could quickly disappear.Reps. Jim Oberstar, Collin Peterson, Betty McCollum, Tim Walz, and Keith Ellison criticized the Pawlenty administration's slow response in applying for several streams of funding for disaster relief, reimbursements for the Metropolitan Council, and the rebuilding of the bridge.
It would seem sitting on your ass is a standard Republican characteristic, no matter what level of government they are leading.
How in hell could he not have applied immediately. If you don't step up and get a number when the disaster is on the news Congress will forget about you.
You have to ask before they can do anything. They don't even get to suggest funding if the state doesn't formally request it.
It happened to Florida in hurricane Andrew. The governor forgot to request Federal assistance and the Army sat around in trucks for two days waiting for the word to move out.