Why is there a debate over disaster relief directed to the scene of the disaster?

Red States:

As Hurricane Irma bears-down on Florida, while Texas still reels from Harvey, ideologues on both sides of the disaster relief debate are digging-in. Democrats, as always, seek to exploit a crisis to get more government spending, less deficit reductions, and more pet projects paid. On the other extreme, some act as if federal disaster relief is a grave violation of the Constitution that has James Madison rolling-over in his grave. Neither of these positions are rational.

Federal disaster aide is not unconstitutional, but it should also not be a hobby horse for more fiscal recklessness in other areas. The Constitution does not expressly authorize Federal disaster relief through agencies like FEMA; it does not expressly forbid it, either. The Constitutional clause generally cited to provide for disaster relief is Article I, Section 8, Clause 3. The Interstate Commerce Clause is generally interpreted as allowing for disaster relief because, in the absence of such relief from natural disasters, interstate commerce is impeded. That is a legitimate perspective, but the idea should not be taken to the extreme.

Federal disaster relief under Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 should be limited in scope and duration. Helping devastated Texans recover from Harvey, or ravaged Floridians from Irma, is good and proper. We cannot let some of America’s largest cities in two of our largest states lie in ruins. To do so would impede interstate commerce and the overall prosperity of the American economy. We must also, however, not allow other favor spending to be attached to disaster relief aide.
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The rest of the country needs Texas to be up and running.  Florida could not be evacuated for Irma without fuel from Texas.  California would come to a stand still.  Michigan would sell fewer vehicles without fuel to run them.   At the same time, the disaster relief bill should not act as a Christmas tree for other pet projects that are not germane to the disaster.  That is what happened in the Sandy relief package and the reason it became controversial and many on the left are still lying about that.