President Donald Trump promised an increase in emergency funding for Florida with some ribbing from state lawmakers Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Politico reports.
"No games, no gimmicks, no delays, we're just doing it,” Trump said Thursday during a speech in Panama Beach.
"We're not going to let anybody hold it up. . . . With Florida, you drive on. With Puerto Rico, it's a little tougher."
During a flight on Air Force One to Panama Beach on Wednesday, Rep. Gaetz and Sen. Rubio persuaded Trump to shell out more in hurricane aid for the state.
"They were worried about setting a precedent," said Gaetz, referring to a 75 percent cost-share limit set by federal regulation.
"[Rubio] told the president a Category 5 storm is something different, and it's something that has never happened in the Panhandle," Gaetz added. "Our economy has tourism, it has military, and it has agricultural, and all three legs of that stool were knocked out."
The House is expected to vote Friday on a multibillion-dollar disaster aid package for recent disasters including tornadoes, wildfires, and Hurricanes Florence, Michael, Harvey, and Irma. It includes an additional $3 billion for flooding in the Midwest and funding for Puerto Rico. Trump's opposition to more hurricane aid for Puerto Rico has sparked a standoff with Democrats, though Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday signaled a willingness to drop objections to the bill.
Trump tweeted Thursday: "House Republicans should not vote for the BAD DEMOCRAT Disaster Supplemental Bill which hurts our States, Farmers & Border Security. We want to do much better than this. All sides keep working and send a good BILL for immediate signing!" he added.
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