Quote image editor
“As noted in Chapter 4, there’s abundant evidence that presidents use their disaster-declaration authority under the Stafford Act to aid their own reelection prospects. Presidents direct more disaster relief to politically important states and declare more disasters in election years—and the average number of yearly disaster declarations has been increasing over time.35 Bill Clinton still holds the election-year record, with 75 disaster declarations in 1996; George W. Bush came in a close second in 2004, and has declared disasters at a faster rate overall than Clinton.” — Gene Healy
As noted in Chapter 4, there’s abundant evidence that presidents use their disaster-declaration
authority under the Stafford Act to aid their own reelection prospects. Presidents direct more
disaster relief to politically important states and declare more disasters in election years—and the
average number of yearly disaster declarations has been increasing over time.35 Bill Clinton still
holds the election-year record, with 75 disaster declarations in 1996; George W. Bush came in a
close second in 2004, and has declared disasters at a faster rate overall than Clinton.