Flake Flakes Out On Funding Challenge
An amusing little exchange took place on the floor of the House of Representatives today. U.S. Representative Jeff Flake was attempting to stop a bunch of earmarks dealing with flood control in certain districts. Flake thought that the funding would be more fairly distributed if it was coordinated centrally by FEMA instead of approved individually in the form of earmarks. Over and over again, Flake challenged anyone in Congress to explain to him why it shouldn’t be so. Does Mother Nature target only districts of those offering earmarks? Finally, someone took Flake up on his offer.
And then…
“Still nobody has taken me up on my offer. I will yield time to anybody who can tell me that Mother Nature targets districts represented by appropriators. It simply doesn’t happen.
Mr. CULBERSON. I will happily take the challenge. I’m ready.
Mr. FLAKE. No thanks. I know better. But I believe my time is out.
I urge adoption of the amendment. We simply have to be more fiscally responsible. And we have to have a system at FEMA that is based on risk and merit rather than spoils. This is a system based on spoils right now. That is why the adoption of the amendment should be done.
I yield back the balance of my time.”
Ready to accept the challenge was John Culberson of Texas. Yet, Jeff Flake wouldn’t yield any time to Culberson. Flake yielded his time back to the Chair of the House, not to Culberson.
Later, Culberson came back and challenged Flake to allow him to accept Flake’s challenge:
“Mr. CULBERSON. Would the gentleman yield?
Mr. FLAKE. I will yield to the gentleman only if he will answer the question yes or no: Does Mother Nature target districts represented by appropriators?”
Flake flaked out. Apparently, he was afraid to hear an actual, in-depth response to his challenge.
