A tsunami of lunacy

‘The nation is in an historic fiscal crisis, and it is imperative that the Congress roll back spending in virtually every area - including NOAA - so that we can help our economy (get) back on track’

- Jennifer Hing, GOP congressional spokeswoman

If a tsunami smashes Hawaii or California without adequate warning, there may be no economy left in these states that are readily recognized as vital economic engines.

So let’s be clear: A tsunami can snuff out thousands of lives, wreck cities or worse and trigger nuclear plant disasters. To revive the economy, a majority of the House of Representatives - now under Republican control - slashed $126 million during February 2011 from the National Weather Service, the agency which operates the Pacific Tsunami Warming Center in Hawaii, which in turn issued warnings minutes after the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami which decimated much of Japan.

Makes perfect sense…to a gang of imbeciles.

Now we know that the tea partiers are insane. They ignore safety concerns as they persist in their mission of eliminating $61 billion in expenses. The House passed a bill slashing $61 billion, but the Democratic-controlled Senate has so far ignored the legislation.

A union representative, quoted by the Associated Press, said the proposal could lead to furloughs and rolling closures of weather service offices, which could impair the center’s ability to issue warnings comparable to those issued on March 11. “People could die,” said Barry Hirshorn, Pacific region chairman of the National Weather Service Employees Organization.

The weather service cuts are part of $454 million in reductions for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Both of Hawaii’s senators and a House member, all Democrats, asserted the need for the warning system, AP reported.

“This disaster displays the need to keep the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center fully funded and operational,” said Sen. Daniel Inouye, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “I hope my Republican colleagues in the House are now aware that there was a horrific earthquake and tsunami in the Pacific.”

Sen. Daniel Akaka added, “The warning center provided critical information to public safety officials for an effective response to the tsunami. The House-passed bill that attempts to slash the warning center’s budget is shortsighted and puts our nation’s security at risk.”

Hing, spokeswoman for the House Appropriations Committee, insisted that House members understand that critical lifesaving and safety programs are maintained, according to AP. She said that funds for a network of buoys to detect tsunamis in the Pacific Ocean will be retained.

She added that Republican leaders will cooperate with the White House and NOAA officials “to ensure that vital programs such as these receive adequate funding.”

It would be devastating if Hawaii and California were struck by a tsunami without an opportunity to minimize the damage. Hawaii is a tourist mecca and California is our largest state, the home of countless, innovative industries.

One would think the Republicans would be anxious to preserve that part of our economy.