Some Republican senators only like federal relief when it benefits their own state

States that received the most federal relief (FY 2011-12)

No state received more federal relief than Texas in 2011 and 2012. Yet the state's senators joined other Republicans in voting against a bill providing disaster aid to the East Coast after Hurricane Sandy ravaged the region in 2012. See the US states that receive the most disaster aid, and if their senators were will to help other states.

Source: Center for American Progress



less States that received the most federal relief (FY 2011-12)

No state received more federal relief than Texas in 2011 and 2012. Yet the state's senators joined other Republicans in voting against a bill providing ... more Photo: Houston Chronicle Photo: Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 350 Caption Close Some Republican senators only like federal relief when it benefits their own state 1 / 350 Back to Gallery

Senator Ted Cruz joined other leaders in a devastated Houston on Tuesday to observe a city ravaged by rains and deadly flooding. He toured Central Texas the next day, where Memorial Day storms caused several deaths and damaged hundreds of homes.

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The White House hopeful described the state as hurting. So Cruz asked for something Texas does more than anywhere else in the country. He called for federal relief to kickstart the state's recovery.

Yet Cruz and fellow Texas senator John Cornyn joined dozens of other Republicans in voting against a $51 billion disaster aid package for East Coast states after Hurricane Sandy took apart the region in October 2012. Some conservatives criticized the bill for “pork spending” and not including spending cuts to offset expenditures.

(UPDATE: A representative for Cornyn's office said in an email the senator did vote for another package that she said "cut out funding unrelated to the damage." This amendment was rejected.)

Many of those senators live in their own disaster-prone areas and regularly accept aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency when disaster strikes back home. In 2013, the two Republican senators from Oklahoma asked for aid after tornados ravaged the area despite working to undermine FEMA for years.

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Texas has had 88 major disaster declarations since 1953, FEMA data shows. That’s tops in the nation. An analysis by the liberal nonprofit Center for American Progress showed that during the fiscal years 2011 and 2012, Texas took in more than $5 billion in disaster relief – $1 billion more than the second closest state.

See the gallery above for a look at the states that receive the most disaster relief – and how they voted on Hurricane Sandy aid.