November 17, 2024

FEMA Ignores Republican Areas Impacted by Hurricanes

Last week, I linked to a story in my newsletter regarding a troubling news report detailing how a FEMA employee, Marn’i Washington, instructed hurricane relief workers to skip homes with Trump signs.  Ms. Washington oversaw the relief efforts in Florida following Hurricane Milton, which devastated many people along the Gulf Coast.  You may recall that, at the time, President Trump voiced concern regarding reports that the Biden-Harris Administration was purposely “neglecting areas that had voted for Republicans” in response to the hurricane recovery efforts. The Fake News, including the New York Times, accused President Trump of lying.  Guess what?  Trump was right, again.  FEMA now admits that dozens of homes of Trump supporters were skipped, leaving homeowners without the opportunity to qualify for FEMA assistance.

In response, this week, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability on which I serve, announced a congressional hearing with Biden’s FEMA Administrator to answer questions regarding their employee instructing relief workers to bypass hurricane-impacted homes displaying signs for President Trump.  Not only are these actions by a FEMA employee completely unacceptable, but I am deeply concerned that such blatant discrimination is not an isolated incident at the agency.  Don’t take my word for it: Marn’i Washington has publicly stated that FEMA’s practice of denying assistance to certain storm victims

based on political beliefs occurs “not just in the state of Florida but in the

Carolinas as well.” In fact, she explains it is both widespread and it is common practice.  FEMA has a responsibility to use taxpayer dollars effectively and deliver assistance wherever the need is and free of political prejudice.  The hearing is scheduled for next week.  I will report back.

The House Finally Passes Legislation Repealing GPO and WEP

This week, the House of Representatives returned to Washington, DC and finally passed H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023, legislation repealing Social Security’s Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), two provisions that can reduce the benefits of certain workers who also receive a pension based on earnings that were exempt from Social Security payroll taxes.  The vote was overwhelmingly bipartisan, with 327 Members of Congress voting in favor and only 75 opposed.  This issue was brought to my attention years ago at one of my Social Security round tables.  I never forgot and continued to work on this issue.

Social Security is one of the most important programs in the United States and is a vital source of income for many citizens of Arizona.  As a cosponsor of H.R. 82, I have advocated for the repeal of the WEP and GPO, which have unfairly penalized thousands of Arizonans who have worked tirelessly their entire lives.

This nonsense policy punishes hard work and prudent planning.  If you paid into Social Security, the government should not punish you and take your hard-earned benefits just because you’re a firefighter, police officer, or a teacher.

Now it’s time for the Senate to quickly take up this important legislation and get it to the President to sign into law.

Kamala Pays Oprah $1 Million to Appear at Town Hall

One of the more stunning stories to come out since President Trump’s historic landslide victory last week are revelations that Kamala Harris had to pay Hollywood big shots more than $20 million to “pretend” to show support for the Vice President, including $1 million to Oprah Winfrey to appear at town hall meeting in September, according to multiple news reports.  Demonstrating how out of touch the left is with Americans, the Harris campaign also reportedly spent millions on several concerts including performances by Jon Bon Jovi, Christina Aguilera, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga.  Oprah denies being paid, however, FEC filings show the Harris campaign made two $500,000 payments to Winfrey’s production company.  In contrast, I’m told that all Hulk Hogan asked for to speak at a Trump rally were two hamburgers and a milkshake!

AZ Proposition Round-up

If you voted last week in Arizona, you saw a two-page ballot that had numerous propositions. With 99% of the votes counted, let’s see how things ended up.

The most bothersome was the enactment of Proposition 139, which created a state constitutional right to an abortion, up until fetal viability.

On the other hand, Proposition 314 passed allowing state and local police to arrest illegal aliens who enter the United States. It is clear Arizonans have had enough of the Democrat open borders, and the crime, poverty, and costs associated with illegal aliens.  They should be arrested and deported.

Also on the crime front, 64% of Arizonans voted yes on Proposition 313.  Now, Arizona courts can impose life sentences for child sex trafficking.  That seems appropriate and long overdue.

Arizonans thankfully rejected Proposition 140, an effort to install open primaries and ranked-choice voting.  The left spent millions of dollars hoping to create the same disastrous system in Arizona that Alaska recently adopted.  Open primaries are simply a way for the Left to infiltrate Republican primaries.

In response to the abuse of power by the governor’s office during the COVID-19 pandemic, Proposition 135 would have limited the governor’s powers during an emergency.  Unfortunately, that proposition failed.

Thankfully, voters also rejected Arizona Proposition 138 which would have allowed workers who rely on tips to be paid 25% below minimum wage.  I support no taxes being paid on tips and if I get a chance to vote for legislation that would eliminate taxes on tips I will vote yes.

Happy Veterans Day!

To the men and women who dedicated their lives to fighting for our freedom, you have my most sincere gratitude. This Veterans Day, in honor of those who have selflessly served our great nation, I had the privilege of meeting with dozens of veterans residing at the Rustic Ranch Senior Living Center in Wickenburg.  Thank you to our nation’s heroes and their families!

It’s Mail Time!                                               

📬 I receive thousands of letters each month and I appreciate hearing from everyone. Here are a few of those who wrote in this week:

📨 Calvin C. from Goodyear writes:

Will Mr. Schiff be investigated by the House for tax fraud, or will the matter be pushed under the rug as so many of these types of Federal infractions are?

✍ Calvin – As you know, Adam Schiff is the horrible Democrat politician recently elected to be a United States Senator for California.  He is so bad that, with my support, he was censured for misleading the American public.  Auto Magazine claims that Schiff is “…  under fire for claiming both his homes in California and Maryland as his ‘principal residence’ in mortgage and election filings over the past two decades,” which could constitute fraud according to experts.

Ideally, Mr. Schiff would never be allowed to be a U.S. Senator, let alone anywhere near our center of political power in Washington D.C.  If it is clear that Schiff potentially did any wrongdoing when it comes to taxes or mortgages, then the proper authorities should launch an investigation.  No American, including Schiff, is above the law.

📨 Casandra M. from Glendale shares:

I write to urge you to vote NO on H.R. 9495, a dangerous and unconstitutional bill that would grant the incoming Trump administration sweeping power to unilaterally shut down nonprofit organizations, without due process.

This legislation is part and parcel of a broader assault on democracy and the right to protest, which aims to outlaw the very social justice movements fighting for progressive change. In this context, attacks on the Palestinian rights movement in particular are being used as a tool to dismantle the broader nonprofit sector.

H.R. 9495 gives the Secretary of the Treasury virtually unfettered discretion to strip nonprofit organizations of their tax-exempt status, without due process. This dangerous legislation constitutes a brazen attack on democracy and freedom of speech, and every member of Congress who seeks to protect our fundamental freedoms must vote against it.

✍ Casandra, unfortunately you’re buying into leftist propaganda regarding H.R. 9495, the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act.  I voted yes to support the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act when it made it to the House of Representatives floor for a vote a few months ago.

In reality, the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act provides the Internal Revenue Service with tools to ensure that American citizens who have been taken hostage or wrongfully detained and their families do not incur penalties for late tax payments while they are in captivity.  The legislation also prevents organizations from maintaining tax-exempt status if they are found to have provided material support or resources to a terrorist or terrorist-supporting organization within a three-year period.

My heart goes out to Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained overseas, as well as the families of these individuals.  I cannot imagine the hardship and struggle that people in such a situation face. It is important to support these Americans and their families until they are safely returned to our home soil.  The United States cannot give into the demands of terrorists and organizations that support terrorists certainly do not deserve to hold a tax-exempt status.

Tweet of the Week:

Photo of the Week:

📸 William Isbell from Yuma shares this amazing photo he describes as a group of Desert Bighorn Sheep ascending the side of a mountain in the Kofa Wildlife Refuge in northern Yuma County.  Great picture, William.  Keep sending them in!

Do you want the chance for your photograph to be featured as our “Picture of the Week?”   If so, send your best shots along with a brief description to Anthony.foti@mail.house.gov.  Remember to include your name and where you live.

Gosar in the News and Other Must-Read Stories:

📰 Gateway Pundit: Whoopi Goldberg’s Claim She Was Refused Service by NYC Bakery Due to Her Politics Gets Blown Up When Bakery Owner and Local Politician Reveal What Really Happened

🗞 Washington Examiner: House committee demands briefing before FEMA administrator answers for ‘failure’ at hearing

📰 Fox News: Trump’s ‘border czar’ warns Dem govs rejecting Trump deportation plan: ‘Get the hell out of the way’

🗞 Washington Times: Harris campaign steered donations to Hollywood

📰 Town Hall: Democrats Provide Great Comic Relief Following Loss

🗞 New York Post: FEMA worker accused of telling staff to skip hurricane-ravaged Trump homes claims it was common practice: ‘This is not isolated’

⚠ Warning!!  The Gosar Weekly Newsletter is meant for discerning readers with above-average intelligence.  We link to interesting stories.  We get stories a couple different ways: Google alerts, a third-party aggregator and sometimes readers send stuff.  We don’t vouch for every publication or every author.  If we link to a story, it is because of that story. The views expressed in any of the publications do not represent any promotion, endorsement or reflection of Congressman Gosar’s views.  While we try our best, we cannot guarantee every news organization spouting hatred, animosity or divisiveness will be filtered from appearing in the Gosar Weekly Newsletter.  We will endeavor to prevent that from happening by never linking to Fake News organizations including CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Rolling Stone, the Arizona Republic, the Arizona Mirror, Media Matters or the New Republic.