Politicians attempt to derail hurricane bill

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As this issue went to press, it looked as if the Hurricane Recovery Assistance Bill was on track. Mississippi and Louisiana officials were anticipating a significant share of the $29 billion assistance package. Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss, even said he had negotiated a “deal” to provide funds to the states hard-hit by Hurricane Katrina.

THEN, the other shoe dropped!

Dec. 19, the House of Representatives approved the bill, tying it to defense spending. Dec. 20, Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, attached a measure that would open the Arctic National Refuge in Alaska to oil drilling. That measure failed, but it is an insult to every hurricane victim that any respectable senator would be so self-serving.

Environmental organizations and conservatives immediately began calling their senators, urging them to vote against the bill as long as the two other provisions were attached but where would that leave the insurance industry and the hurricane victims? This move could have delayed the much-needed federal financial help.

Here we are, just getting over the worst hurricane season on record, with homeless people struggling to make ends meet and put their lives back in order after Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. I can’t believe any elected officials could tag totally inappropriate measures onto a bill which could result in derailing funding to permit catastrophe victims to rebuild and resume their lives.

As of Dec. 22 the bill included:

$11.5 billion in Community Development Block Grants to spur economic development and help homeowners without flood insurance rebuild or repair their homes;

$4.4 billion for storm-related Defense Department expenses and facility damage;

$2.9 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers to continue storm and flood repairs, begin reconstructing levees and accelerate studies on improving Gulf Coast flood protection;

$2.8 billion to repair damaged roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure;

$1.6 billion for education, including $645 million for schools that took in students; and

$750 million for schools affected by the hurricanes and $200 million for higher education.

By placing these additions to the Hurricane Assistance Bill, these politicians endangered and almost blindsided a beneficial bill, all in an effort to serve their constituents without consideration or concern for the hurricane victims.

The Hurricane Assistance Bill’s motivation is to assist property owners who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. By placing these additions onto the bill, a bunch of totally irresponsible and uncaring politicians endangered an excellent piece of legislation no matter what the final outcome, they should be made to pay for their indiscretions.

Whether or not the Hurricane Assistance Bill passes, voters should keep this action in mind when politicians who sponsored the changes come up for re-election and vote to make sure they are removed from office.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Hurricane

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