Rep. Canseco: Obama AWOL on Texas Wildfires

President Obama speaks this afternoon on immigration reform in El Paso, Texas, followed by two DNC events in Austin. But while the president fundraises and talks about immigration, Republicans are countering on a different front: why is the President focusing on these things while Texas is literally burning?

The Texas Forest Service reports this morning that there are currently 10 major fires across the state covering 599,405 acres of land. Since November, 9,000 fires have burned across 2.2 million acres of land in Texas.

Last week, FEMA denied a request from Texas Governor Rick Perry for a declaration of emergency, which would have given the state access to certain recovery loans, grants and response assistance from the federal government.

Freshman Congressman Quico Canseco (TX-23), whose district includes part of El Paso, where the President is speaking this afternoon, yesterday issued a video criticizing the President for his response to the wildfires.

“Texas is on fire, from border to border and President Obama is looking the other way… when the Campaigner-in-Chief is in Austin for a fundraiser, perhaps he will find time to see the devastation," said Canseco in a statement obtained by FrumForum.

Texas’ Governor was similarly outraged by the FEMA decision. “You have to ask, 'Why are you taking care of Alabama and other states?' I know our letter didn't get lost in the mail," Gov. Perry told Reuters last week as the FEMA denial was announced.

In a separate press release, he slammed the President by saying that he was “dismayed that this administration has denied Texans the much needed assistance they deserve. It is not only the obligation of the federal government, but its responsibility under law to help its citizens in times of emergency.”

FEMA has countered that their decision not to declare a state of emergency was based on the fact that they had issued 25 Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs).

Texas Gov. Rick Perry says this will only help with a small proportion of the fires – an emergency declaration would offset a portion of the costs of all firefighting during the designated emergency period. “An FMAG is akin to giving a homeowner a squirt gun, when his house is burning to the ground, instead of sending the fire department,” added Rep. Canseco.

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