Yesterday law enforcement did a swoop in Miami-Dade County and arrested 12 people who filed false FEMA claims. They have warrants for two more. Hopefully, this is just the beginning, as anyone who filed claims there for Hurricane Frances is a liar:
"This is probably the tip of the iceberg,'' said U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, R-Palm Beach Gardens. "I hope this sends a clear, compelling message to anyone who tries to scam the system. I also hope this sends a wakeup call to the FEMA officials ... acting as if nothing is wrong.''
The Miami-Dade payments have drawn outrage nationwide since the South Florida Sun-Sentinel first reported in October on the large amounts going to a county spared any hurricane conditions. The controversy prompted a U.S. Senate committee investigation and proposed federal legislation to change the way the government awards disaster assistance in the future.
One woman's mother brought up an important point:
"I think the people that gave them money [are] just as guilty,'' she said. "If they go in the apartment and there's no damage, why would they give them money?''
Why would they?
Posted by floridacracker at March 3, 2005 06:33 AM