Ron Paul

The federal government had a lot of responsibility for the creation of the mess in New Orleans.

But to say, it's endless. The government will take care of us and we're broke and we're in the midst of this economic crisis which will get a lot worse and not be concerned about it.

My point wasn't - I pointed out in 1900, Galveston, which is in my district, they survived without FEMA and they did rebuild the city and it was mostly local funds. Probably some state funds.

Rescue operations, I think so. As a matter of fact, my approach, I think was a very modest and reasonable approach when they came for funds.

We've only had it since 1979. And they don't have a very good record. I mean, these natural disasters are very, very dangerous. So, I don't understand why we turn it order to a through bureaucracy. Thorough bureaucracy as a whole, don't do…

I have had more calls on FEMA, being upset with FEMA than all the other agencies put together.

Well, the thing of it is, you create more hazard by the government by saying, well, the government, you pay this and the government will be there. They'll always be there to take care of you and pay your bills. Well, they're broke. They…

If you want efficiency, why don't we look at how thing were handled before we had FEMA.

They would have been better off in Katrina if they would have just written a check to everybody and not gotten involved in all the mess that they did.

I said I will vote for the funds, but you have got to cut it. We're broke. The economic condition of this country is dire.

So my point wasn't -- I pointed out in 1900, Galveston, which is in my district, they survived without FEMA and they did rebuild the city and it was mostly local funds.

Federal bureaucracies as a whole don't do a very good job, but FEMA has the worst reputation of almost any of them.