Feds turn tables on Florida Gov. Rick Scott, deny storm money

Tampa-St. Petersburg Times ^ | September 22, 2012 | Toluse Olorunnipa

[Cincinatus' Wife]

TALLAHASSEE — Time after time since taking office, Gov. Rick Scott has boasted of rejecting billions of dollars from the federal government. Now, Washington has turned the tables, shutting down Scott's plea for financial aid in a move that almost instantly took on political tones.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency refused Scott's request for a presidential declaration of disaster for damages caused by Tropical Storm Isaac, declining to provide $26.9 million in aid to hard-hit counties.

Scott moved this week to appeal the decision, but not before the issue was cast in a political light, highlighting Florida's importance in the presidential election and the rocky relationship between Washington and the Sunshine State.

.....[Chris] Fugate [FEMA director], who served as director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management from 2001-09, this week let Scott know his request had been denied.

Fugate's letter stated that the damage was not severe enough to require federal aid, and basically argued that Florida could handle the costs on its own.

The rejection is the latest dust-up in a tenuous relationship between Scott and the federal government.

Shortly after coming into office, Scott rejected more than $2 billion in federal funds aimed at building a high-speed rail line. Obama criticized Scott for the snub, saying he thought it was "wrong."

Scott helped support the U.S. Supreme Court challenge to Obama's federal health care reform this year. When the Supreme Court upheld most of the law in June, Scott said Florida would not accept billions of federal dollars to expand Florida's Medicaid rolls.

Scott also has battled Washington over early voting changes and purging noncitizens from the voter rolls.......

[Captain7seas]

To: Chris Fugate, FEMA Director

Be advised that as of today I am embargoing all federal income tax payments to the U.S.Treasury from Citizens of the State of Florida.

Have a nice day.
Gov. Rick Scott