Disaster Funding: Where does it go?

Ever wonder where the money goes when  the governor of a state ask the federal government for "disaster relief?"

Well, in New York, we now know where some of the Hurricane Sandy Relief money is going.  It is going to promote New York as a business friendly environment (that is going to take a lot of money).

Read this short blurb from the National Review Online.

Andrew Cuomo Launches Ad Campaign to Lure Businesses to N.Y.  (Read Full Story Here)

By  Eliana Johnson

May 6, 2013 11:00 AM

New York governor Andrew Cuomo is launching a $140 million ad campaign to lure businesses to the Empire State. The campaign, “New York State Open for Business,” is being funded with money drawn from federal disaster aid received in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and from the Power Authority and Energy Research and Development Authority, according to the New York Times. 

I have always wondered how a storm can cause let's say $100 billion in damages, and the states ask for $100 billion in emergency relief money from the federal government.  Money that is not expected to be paid back.  This is not FEMA money for loans, but giveaway cash from the feds.  

If the damage is $100 billion, wouldn't a normal, somewhat intelligent person expect the insurance companies to be on the hook for some of the repairs?  And if they are, then why does the state ask for so much money.  Well, obviously you see the answer above.  It becomes a state slush fund for fixing and buying whatever the state wants.

So next time you hear some whining politician, like Chris Christe, or Andrew Cuomo, complaining they are pissed because the federal government is not giving them the amount of money they ask for, now you know why.  Of course most federal legislators like giving away your's and my money.  They could care less that the insurance companies are probably going to pick up the biggest share of the damage.  It allows them to pull out the over-sized cardboard checks and pose for pictures that shows they care.