Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe opposed $60bn federal aid bill for Sandy victims but are fully behind funding for their state

This article is more than 7 years old

This article is more than 7 years old

Oklahoma senators Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe are in a difficult position as attention turns to disaster relief for those affected by the tornado in Moore.

Coburn and Inhofe have a record of vehement opposition to federal funding for disaster relief, and both opposed last year's $60.4bn aid bill for victims of Hurricane Sandy.

But they don't seem to have a problem with federal funding for residents of their state. The Republican pair have sought to draw distinctions between the federal aid Oklahoma might receive and the funding they opposed for New Jersey and New York.

On Tuesday morning Inhofe said tornado aid was "totally different" from Hurricane Sandy aid, the Washington Post reported. The Sandy aid was filled with pork, he told MSNBC.

There were things in the Virgin Islands. They were fixing roads there and putting roofs on houses in Washington, DC. Everyone was getting in and exploiting the tragedy taking place. That won't happen in Oklahoma.

While Coburn told the Government Executive that "there's a legitimate role" for federal relief.

Where Fema can add resources that supplement those that are already there in Oklahoma, they should. They have some expertise that most states can't afford to have, and they're applying that expertise—whether it be search and rescue dogs or mortuary help. They have a long line of things—so there's a legitimate role. What we have to see is what's the total damage outside the lives that are impacted, how much is covered by insurance and how much help does Oklahoma need.

A spokesman for Coburn confirmed on Monday evening that the senator will seek to ensure any additional federal funding for tornado disaster relief is offset by cuts elsewhere, the Huffington Post noted.

"That's always been his position," spokesman John Hart said. "He supported offsets to the bill funding the OKC bombing recovery effort."

Inhofe and Coburn opposed the Hurricane Sandy Fema bill, and Coburn released a statement, along with Arizona senator John McCain, criticising the aid package for its "wasteful spending".

Even before that, the senators opposed a 2011 bill which would have provided $7bn funding to Fema when the agency looked set to run out of cash.

Their noted opposition to Fema meant Inhofe and Coburn have come in for criticsm. Inhofe, in particular, found himself criticised on Twitter after he asked people to pass on a message of prayer.

"The devastation in Oklahoma is heartbreaking. Please join me and #PrayforOklahoma. Spread the word."