Did Puerto Rican Politicians Steal Money For Hurricane Relief

Trump rips "incompetent" Puerto Rican leadership amid disaster aid impasse

Apr 2, 2019 / 2:43 PM / CBS News

Washington — Incensed past the Senate'due south failure to pass a Republican-led disaster aid parcel, President Trump intensified his criticism of the political leadership in Puerto Rico, misstating some facts along the way. In a 2-day Twitter tirade, the president, who has said he strongly opposes more relief aid for Puerto Rico, lambasted Senate Democrats for opposing disaster assist legislation.

"The Democrats today killed a Neb that would have provided great relief to Farmers and yet more money to Puerto Rico despite the fact that Puerto Rico has already been scheduled to receive more than hurricane relief funding than any "place" in history," Mr. Trump wrote on Mon night.

On Monday, the Senate failed to laissez passer the Republicans' disaster assistance pecker when Democrats blocked it, claiming it does not provide enough relief to help Puerto Rico recover from the devastation of the 2017 hurricanes. The GOP bill included funds only for Puerto Rico's nutritional assist program, and non for other recovery-related assist that was part of a proposal passed past the Democratic-controlled House in January.

The $13.5 billion legislation would take provided aid for states recovering from a spate of natural disasters, including the California wildfires terminal summer and hurricane damage in Florida, Georgia and Due north Carolina. Senate Democrats prefer the Firm nib, which, in improver to the nutritional assistance funding, included $500 1000000 to repair Puerto Rico's damaged h2o infrastructure, $25 million to help it restore its sewers and $fifteen million to rebuild its electric grid.

Mr. Trump too denounced the U.S. territory'due south politicians — including San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz, arguably his near vocal critic on the island — every bit incompetent and corrupt. "Puerto Rico got far more money than Texas & Florida combined, yet their government can't do anything correct, the place is a mess - nix works," he added in a follow-upward tweet.

....The all-time matter that ever happened to Puerto Rico is President Donald J. Trump. So many wonderful people, but with such bad Island leadership and with and then much money wasted. Cannot continue to hurt our Farmers and States with these massive payments, so little appreciation!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April two, 2019

The president resumed his criticism on Tuesday morn, over again berating local leaders and challenge he was "the all-time thing that ever happened" to the isle, home to approximately $3.ii million U.S. citizens. "Puerto Rico got 91 Billion Dollars for the hurricane, more than money than has ever been gotten for a hurricane earlier, & all their local politicians practice is complain & enquire for more money," Mr. Trump wrote.

The president's claim that the island has received $91 billion from the U.South. government — ane that he has made on numerous occasions — is non entirely accurate. Although the figures are murky, Puerto Rico has not received $91 billion from Washington.

A Puerto Rican government official told CBS News the island has received $300 meg in funding for "permanent piece of work" on the island in the wake of hurricanes Maria and Irma. The official added that several federal agencies, like the Federal Emergency Direction Agency (FEMA) and the Section of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), have projected billions in relief work for Puerto Rico over the next several years, but that only a small percentage of the funds have been distributed.

According to the Washington Post, Puerto Rico has received "most $11 billion."

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, of New York, said Senate Democrats would be introducing a new disaster aid package that includes the funds the Puerto Rican regime is asking for, also as funding for Midwestern states, like Iowa and Nebraska, that take been recently devastated past flooding and tornadoes.

Our friends in Puerto Rico are Americans.

Hurling insults and newspaper towels is not leadership. Or effective disaster response.@SenateDems are introducing new legislation to provide funds and relief for all disaster-impacted communities, including Iowa, Nebraska, & Puerto Rico. https://t.co/u204TsyFhR
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) Apr two, 2019

A Democratic Senate aide told CBS News that Democrats will include this additional funding in the Business firm version of the disaster funds legislation. This become a thorny consequence for some GOP senators who resisted the House bill in part because it lacked relief assistance for Iowa and Nebraska.

Mr. Trump's administration has also been criticized for its treatment of recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and its rhetoric effectually issues surrounding the island. On Tuesday, while reiterating Mr. Trump claim's that Puerto Rico has received the most federal disaster aid "in history" on MSNBC, White House chief deputy press secretarial assistant Hogan Gidley referred to the isle equally "that country."

Puerto Rico has been a U.S. territory since information technology was caused from Espana during the Spanish-American State of war in the late 19th century.

John Nolen contributed to this study.