November 05, 2012 10:51 AM UTC

The "Anti-Katrina?" TABOR's Contradictions Laid Bare By Sandy

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As Politico reports, something big just happened in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy:

President Barack Obama and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie cemented their new-found mutual admiration society on Wednesday, as the men gushed with praise for one another while touring damage from Hurricane Sandy on the devastated Jersey Shore…

During the press statement and and earlier appearance at a nearby storm shelter, Christie publicly thanked Obama at least six times for his dedication to getting help and supplies to the Garden State.

“I’m pleased to report that he has sprung into action to help get us those things immediately,” the governor said. “It’s been a great working relationship to make sure that were doing the job people elected us to do.

“I cannot thank the president enough,” added Christie, who’s statement drew a hearty handshake and a “Good job, Chris” from the president as he stepped to the microphone.

Meanwhile, FOX 31’s Eli Stokols reports as Colorado, a state that has certainly had our share of natural disasters in 2012, watches the political debate over Hurricane Sandy play out:

Romney, who’s been marginalized for two days as news coverage of the storm has focused on the damage and a federal response led, at least symbolically, by President Barack Obama, has been vague about his plans for FEMA while continuing to stand by his position that disaster relief, and other functions of the federal government, are best handled by the states…

In Colorado, a state where a constitutional amendment prevents lawmakers from raising taxes, FEMA funds are even more critical, argues liberal Denver Post columnist Laura Chapin.

“Romney clearly doesn’t know or doesn’t care how FEMA works and what it means to states like Colorado when it comes to natural disasters,” Chapin told FOX31 Denver Wednesday. “Colorado asked for help from President Obama for coping with the wildfires this summer and they got it. And because of TABOR, Colorado can’t raise state funds to pay for natural disasters itself. So partnership with the federal government is absolutely critical, as Republican NJ Gov Chris Christie has acknowledged.

“We couldn’t recover without it. And Romney would leave Colorado to fend for itself on wildfires, which is just shameful.”

And there you have the conundrum posed by Republicans at the national vs. state levels, both actively carrying out the common policy goal of “reducing the size of government.” The fact is, Colorado lacks the ability to cope with natural disasters because we have severely restricted the state’s ability to accomplish anything involving the public sector. Yet on the federal side, Mitt Romney and the GOP say the states should be the ones to handle disaster relief.

So folks, how does the GOP resolve this conflict? Because this is kind of the essential conflict. In this moment, in the wake of disaster, the fundamentals of the conservative argument for cutting government at all levels for ideological purposes meets reality. And breaks down.

In a perfect world, millions of people would suddenly realize the massive contradiction this represents. But the way one side is played against the other, in this case playing the federal government against the states while cutting on both sides, is not always plain to ordinary voters. It is a game Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey commendably chose not to play yesterday.

Here in Colorado, at least, TABOR throws these issues into a relief others don’t get to see.

And you know what, folks? There’s no good answer.