Posted on November 7, 2013

Rand Paul Slams Christie For "Offensive" Appearances In Post-Sandy NJ Tourism Ads

SEN. RAND PAUL: I grew up in Texas on the gulf coast, so I know a lot about hurricanes, but I appreciate all of you trying to help in the aftermath of a terrible hurricane. A question for Secretary Donovan: Do you think Sandy relief funds ought to be spent on TV ads?



SEC. DONOVAN: I assume what you're referring to, Senator, is that there has been an effort in a number of states, not just in Sandy, but historically as well, in many, many prior storms to encourage economic development, and we did see a small amount of CDBG money used for a economic development campaign to encourage people to go back to the beaches.



PAUL: Do you think it's a good idea or a bad idea?



DONOVAN: The evidence we have seen is that those campaigns are effective in growing economic development in those areas, and they actually reduce the cost of recovery to the federal government.



PAUL: I don't think we need an argument about whether ads work. Ads work, but do you think that Sandy relief should be spent on TV ads? Yes or no? Good idea, bad idea.



DONOVAN: As I said, we looked at the evidence, and we have seen that it encourages economic development.



PAUL: It's my understanding that y'all had a waiver to do this.



DONOVAN: The community development block grant is a very flexible program, this is clearly within the legal boundaries of what Congress has approved the fund can be used for, and it was demonstrated to us that this could be an effective tool, and actually lower the cost to the federal government.



PAUL: It gives a little bit of a black eye to something that maybe a lot of it is going to a good purpose, but I would say if I was in your place, I would say no, we're not going to spend ads. Here's another problem. Some of these ads. People running for office put their mug all over these ads while they were in the middle of a political campaign. In New Jersey, $25 million was spent on ads that included somebody running for political office! You think there might be a conflict of interest there? That's a real problem. And that's why when people are trying to do good, trying to use taxpayer money wisely, they're offended to see our money spent on political ads. It's offensive. In New York, they actually had a rule, they're not allowed to do it. So New York does the same thing, which I still object, but at least they didn't put someone's face on the ad, and their family, it looks like a bio ad.