Florida GOP U.S. Sen. Rick Scott said Friday that he’s asked the federal agencies involved with disaster relief to tell him what are the dollar figures they’ll need from Congress to help Floridians harmed by hurricanes Helene and Milton over the past two weeks.
“I talked to the FEMA administrator yesterday and said, ‘Give me a number. … Tell me when you need it and I’ll be very helpful in trying to get it done.’ So, I’ve asked that from FEMA, and I’ve asked that from the SBA administrator [the] same thing, and then I asked the president, ‘If you give me the numbers, I’ll be very vocal about it.’”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s director is Deanne Criswell. The SBA is the Small Business Administration.
President Biden on Thursday joined other Democrats calling on Congress to return to Washington sooner rather than later to pass additional disaster relief following the two storms. But he’s opposed in that effort by GOP Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who has said that Congress will address those funding needs but only after the general election next month.
Speaking to reporters after taking a boat ride with Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister and others who were making rescue missions to save residents from flooding, Scott said he believed Johnson could be convinced to return to Washington.
“If we need the money, I’ve very comfortable that Mike Johnson will be supportive of us going back to get it done,” he told the Phoenix.
The Naples Republican, running for re-election against Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, said that President Biden has thanked him this week for being vocal in ensuring that FEMA, the Small Business Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Agriculture are fully funded so that they can provide the proper relief to Floridians.
The White House announced on Friday that the president will appear somewhere in Florida on Sunday to visit areas affected by Hurricane Milton.
Climate change?
Scott repeated comments he made following Hurricane Helene’s assault on Florida when asked if he felt the powerful storms are a result of a warming planet due to carbon emissions.
“I don’t think there’s any question that the climate’s changing, so let’s acknowledge [that],” he told reporters.
“You look at 2017, with the storm surge we had with Irma down in the Keys. Look at 2018, with the storm surge at Mexico Beach,” Scott continued.
So, what we have to do is, we have to think about how we’re going to deal with it. When I was governor, what we did, we funded studies, we spent quite a money on both beach renourishments, sea level rise, studies on it, we did flood mitigation. … As citizens, we’re going to have to figure out how to deal with this.”
Florida Democrats were less impressed by Scott’s speaking up for FEMA funding on Friday, noting that Scott skipped the vote in September when Republicans opposed supplemental disaster funds in a continuing resolution to continue funding the U.S. government.
“Floridians desperately need disaster relief funding to rebuild from Helene and Milton, but Rick Scott wasn’t in Washington to fight for it when it mattered most. Scott wants to be the hero, but he can’t change the facts: He’s voted against disaster relief time and time again. Floridians are sick of Scott’s performances and will hold him accountable in November,” party chair Nikki Fried told the Phoenix in a written statement.
The emergency boat rescues conducted by Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies took place as the Alafia River in Lithia, east of Tampa, had risen about 15 feet since Milton dumped more than 15 inches of rain in the county on Wednesday night.
“This isn’t a boat ramp,” Chronister told reporters while standing in front of a pool of water several feet deep.
“This is a neighborhood that’s flooded that we’re able to use to launch a lot of our equipment. ..This six feet of flooding that these poor residents are enduring were a mile away from the river. These residents are resilient, they’re used to a little bit of flooding. They’re not used to this level of this kind of flooding, and how fast it occurred.”
–Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix
Tom Hutson says
Rick Scott is another congressional dirt bag! He needs to be voted OUT of office.
He’s the epitome of our two state senators. He did nothing when he was governor and like a leopard that cannot change his spots, Scott is a do nothing Senator. Everything for Scott, nothing for the Florida voter. Time for the Voters to get rid of Rick Scott at November 5, 2024 Election!!
Skibum says
Rick Scott loves to make grandiose photo op drive-bys during election season but we know not only his history of corruption and incompetence, but also his absences in the senate. He has been getting even more extreme with his MAGA views and support as he attempts to replace Sen. McConnell as the top Republican in the Senate. All he wants is power, but when he had that great power as gov and senator he did not do what is right for Floridians who needed his help and influence. He needs to go!
Al says
Let’s get a clean bill of no more then 2 pages for emergency relief only. Not for illegals, sanctuary cites or any other BS. the last bill was fill of pork and this has to stop now. Congress needs to address each item on it’s own not the Pelosi era 2,500 page bills that nobody reads till weeks later.
Wobie says
Too little, too late Mr. Scott.
Nice use of campaigning while touring disaster. Time for you to go!
Carol b says
Too little, too late, Prick Scott! Just hope this is his swan song!
Jim says
Hi, I’m Rick Scott and I’m running for re-election. It’s three weeks out from election day so I thought this would be a great time to tell all the voters and [now] I’m for FEMA funding! I know I missed the vote (because I didn’t want to publicly vote NO) but I had important things to do (campaign) and I didn’t think actually doing my job as a senator really mattered. But we’re close to the election and I see my opponent is gaining on me (I’ll just spend more of my personal fortune to offset that) so I see that telling everyone that although my actions don’t support my statements, I really, really want FEMA money sent here to Florida. Now, if they would just hold the election outside of hurricane season, I could say that the government spends too much money, we need to be fiscally conservative and we need to sunset Social Security and other programs but we just had a hurricane so I’ll say whatever is politically prudent for my re-election. But you guys hang on! If I win, I assure you I’ll go back to my usual talking points because you SOB’s can’t touch me for six more years!!!
How could you possibly not vote for a great guy like me??!!
Nephew Of Uncle Sam says
Too little too late for Scott, now that the Election is almost here he’ll say anything for Votes. Just like Waltz who Voted against FEMA additional funds, he’ll be around the area (maybe) promising the world and what he’s done (nothing) for all of his constituents. Don’t be fooled and continue Voting against YOUR best interests, the time is now who is going to do the best job in Washington for YOU? Including your local Mayor and City Council too, think and learn about all the candidates who will be best for Palm Coast and YOU. Time to get rid of Scott and Waltz and Elect Powell and Stockton.
Paul T says
I’m sorry, but I don’t believe that Senator Rick Scott, has ‘turned his coat’ on either government spending or climate change.
When Scott was governor he banned the words ‘climate change’ and ‘global warning’ from official discussions or statements and his views on government spending including the unaffordability of both Medicare and Social Security are in the public record. .
This new found magnanimity is pre-election speak, he want’s our votes.
Will it continue post-election? I think voters need to look at Scott’s track record and make that decision for themselves.
BillC says
Like a hurricane, Rick Scott goes whichever opportunistic way the wind blows.
Billionare tax break says
The r cons supplied all the no votes for fema funding. This is true for nearly any and every program that would help everyday people.