Republicans like to tell us how they believe in the Constitution and limited government. They believe in nothing of the kind. Here is the latest example. FEMA wants the money the federal government gives states to mitigate disaster risks to be contingent upon states considering the potential effects of climate change when they make their disaster plans. Republicans in Congress are upset. It is good that they are skeptical of climate change, but it is bad that that is the only reason they are objecting to FEMA’s plans. Republicans have no principles whatsoever. They have no philosophical objection to FEMA giving money to states. They should know that FEMA giving money to states for any reason is neither constitutional nor part of a limited government. They should know that FEMA shouldn’t even exist in the first place. It is just like Republicans funding NPR as long as it doesn’t get too liberal or funding the NEA as long as it doesn’t fund pornographic art or funding AMTRAK as long as it stays out of the news.

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