Rep. Steve King: The ‘best vote’ I ever cast in Congress was opposing Katrina relief.
By Amanda Terkel on Sep 22nd, 2009 at 12:00 pm
In a new interview with The Hill, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) reveals his proudest moment as a lawmaker:
THE HILL: What vote would you like to redo?
KING: I don’t really go back and re-live that sort of thing. Some of the big votes that I’ve thought about, some of the jury’s still out. And at this point, maybe I’d answer that question another way, probably the singular vote that stands out that went against the grain, and it turns out to be the best vote that I cast, was my “no” vote to the $51.5 billion to [Hurricane] Katrina. That probably was my best vote. But as far as doing something different again, I don’t know.
King was one of just 11 members of Congress to vote against the $52 billion aid package. (It passed unanimously in the Senate.)
Media Matters Action Network’s Matt Finkelstein writes, “Katrina killed 1,464 in Louisiana alone and uprooted the lives of countless others all over the gulf region. Yet, King says this was his ‘best’ moment in Congress. Not fighting for ‘conservative principles’ like smaller government, lower taxes, or a strong national defense — no, he’s most proud of opposing relief for victims of a catastrophe.”
The state of Louisiana has approved $1,441,961 for a shipyard in Venice, allowing Plaquemines Parish officials to access federal Community Development Block Grant dollars needed to implement the project.
The project involves construction of a one-acre boat repair yard on parish-owned property near the VeniceBoatHarbor, which will allow commercial and recreational fishermen to dry dock and repair their own vessels in a cost-efficient manner.
The funding comes from the Fisheries Infrastructure program, a $28.75 million pool of federal disaster-recovery money set aside by the Louisiana Recovery Authority and the Office of Community Development to help restore Louisiana's coastal fisheries infrastructure and revitalize these critical parts of Louisiana's economy and culture.
LRA Executive Director Paul Rainwater said, "Louisiana's fishing industry produces nearly one-quarter of our nation's seafood, making it vital to the success of Louisiana's economy. Our commercial fishermen and seafood dealers have suffered great loss at the hands of four hurricanes in three years, and this project is an investment in helping them recover from such devastation."
Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser said, "Hurricane Katrina set back the fishing industry in Plaquemines Parish, not only destroying and tossing boats up on land, but it also obliterated the infrastructure that supported our fishing industry. That's a major component of our economic base and culture. Our fishermen have been determined to overcome all of the recovery challenges, and we are grateful that CDBG funding makes this project possible."
Hurricane Katrina not only devastated the fishing industry, it also deposited many underwater hazards in bays and canals used by the local fishing fleet. Numerous repairs to rudders, propellers and fishing gear have become problematic for fishermen, making quick and affordable repairs vital to recovery.
The CDBG funds will be used to construct the following features at the shipyard:
Boat Launch Ramp - a new, hard-surfaced back-down ramp for trailer-launched vessels will include timber-supported piers on both sides to facilitate loading and unloading of vessels and gear;
Marine Travel Lift - a 50-ton marine travel lift with a 22-foot inside clearance will be provided;
Marine Travel Lift Slip - a concrete pile-supported slip for the new marine travel lift will allow vertical extraction of the vessels and provide transportation of the vessel from the water to the repair stations;
Vessel Repair Stations - 12 dry docks will be constructed at the one-acre site;
Yard Lighting - light poles with underground wiring will be provided on-site;
Electrical Supply Station - a strategically located electrical supply station will provide easy access for power equipment needed to repair vessels; and
Potable Water Stations - water stations will be available in work repair areas.
As a mitigation measure, electrical panels, meters and equipment will be placed at least 10 feet above sea level to reduce future storm damage. In addition, electrical wiring will be placed underground for wind protection. Both the boat launch ramp and the marine travel lift structure are resistant to high tides and winds.
The state's Fisheries Infrastructure program provides funding for commercial and recreational fishing infrastructure projects in the state's coastal fishing communities. The projects were graded by a national team of fisheries experts and selected for funding by an in-state team comprised of representatives of Louisiana Economic Development, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and OCD. In 2007, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved LRA's request to reallocate $19 million in CDBG dollars to the Fisheries Infrastructure program, which will fund 14 commercial and recreational infrastructure projects. In 2008, HUD approved an LRA allocation of an additional $9.75 million to fund 11 more commercial fisheries projects.
In total, the LRA has allocated $28,750,000 of CDBG funding to the Fisheries Infrastructure programs.
Katrina Money
Federal grants totaling $23,206,912.03 have been awarded for projects in Ascension, St. Bernard, Jefferson, and Plaquemines Parishes. This federal funding, awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will reimburse local governments, school boards, and utilities for the cost of various recovery projects following recent hurricanes.
“From rebuilding levees, to repairing electrical lines, to replacing schools, our hurricane recovery needs in south Louisiana have been significant over the past few years,” said Congressman Melancon. “Meeting them has been an ongoing challenge for our communities.”
The following federal grants were announced:
·$7,428,250.72 to Plaquemines Parish for repairs to the Citrus Lands Levee. After Hurricane Ike’s storm surge created a 200-foot breach in the Citrus Lands levee, the Plaquemines Parish government acted to close the breach and make temporary repairs to the damaged levee. These repairs reduced the immediate threat to private and public property, and protected the lives, public health, and safety of citizens in Plaquemines Parish.
·$1,177,672 to replace W. SmithElementary School in St. Bernard Parish. During and after Hurricane Katrina, water reaching nine feet flooded the school and flying debris destroyed the building. This federal grant will reimburse the St. Bernard Parish School Board for the cost of replacing the school facility.
·$3,290,827.25 to reimburse St. Bernard Parish School Board to replace school materials and contents. Breaches in levees from Hurricane Katrina destroyed instructional materials and supplies at many St. Bernard Parish schools. This federal grant will reimburse the parish school board for costs related to replacing publications, information technology, furniture, and school equipment and supplies.
$5,147,788.06 to reimburse the Dixie Electric Membership Co-op for repairs to the electric distribution system in Ascension Parish. Hurricane Gustav damaged more than 3,000 miles of electrical lines in south Louisiana. This federal grant reimburses DEMCO for repairing electrical components in Ascension Parish that supply power to over 12,000 households and businesses. DEMCO is the largest electric cooperative in Louisiana in terms of number of meters, serving more than 95,000 members in the seven southeast Louisiana parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Livingston, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, and West Feliciana.
·$6,162,374 to rebuild TerrytownElementary School in Jefferson Parish. Storm surge and flooding from Hurricane Katrina damaged the school’s windows, walls, floors, ceilings and electrical system. The grant version announced today expands the scope of the work that will be reimbursed and increases the grant amount to more accurately reflect the costs incurred by the Parish to replace the school facility.
New Orleans Ambassadors
As New Orleans heads into its fifth year post-Katrina, our city�s recovery continues on many fronts. Thousands of volunteers have donated their time and effort to what has been and continues to be a massive rebuilding effort. Every day, volunteers from Court Watch NOLA keep track of an overburdened criminal court system. Andrea Bland is Chairman of the Board of Court Watch NOLA and talks about the progress that�s been made in the last six months. Watch video.
And the men who hold high places must be the ones to start..... To mould a new reality - Closer to the heart - closer to the heart...... The blacksmith and the artist, reflect it in their art - - Forge their creativity - Closer to the heart... Philosophers and ploughmen, Each must know his part - - To sow a new mentality - - Closer to the heart, yes closer to the heart.... You can be the captain - I will draw the chart............ Sailing into destiny - Closer to the heart - closer to the heart..... * * * * A farewell to kings............
Written by
on 9/24/2009
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Sort of coincidental how Gustav and Ike wandered onto the scene a few months after the below post... And what happened? Well I can assure you there were no STRONGCONCRETE defenses in place..... Pity that..... Written by
on 9/24/2009
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LOOKING BACK OVER THE YEARS - - - - - - Simple Jacob...... When you wrote “””Take your choice of the above and pick a fight.””””””Everything you wrote sounds gloriously wonderful............. And I choose to pick all that you wrote down………. I am not going to box myself in on one little hair splitting event, I want the full head of hair to drag around….. Nothing you mentioned is worth spit……………..Not until you make sure that the anticipated 100 Billion dollars+ for the primary mission statement isn't being wasted in typical and documented Louisiana Style……, And as well as that making double G.D. sure that a great area of Louisiana, as well as its associated population values and worth along with the reinvested wealth that has recently been made are shielded from the probable, and mind you I said probable as in very likely event of incurring serious losses commonly associated with weather driven or hydrological activity events in the near future...... New Orleans was NOT hit by Katrina, Mississippi was….. And New Orleans FLOODED…. Just like New Orleans was NOT hit by RITA a few weeks later, the Texas/Louisiana border several hundred miles to the west was, And New Orleans FLOODED…… 500 year event? What is that? Some fancy nomenclature attached to one of the whims of God or Nature by our astute scholars????? Focus on the priorities and multi task at the same time replacing copper telephone lines with fiber optic cable if that is what the problem with Louisiana is in your opinion………. Sounds like a wonderful project…… Very useful……. I can write numerous dissertations on the subject of Louisiana, and the economy……. Scope, scale, directions, imperatives, etc, etc., etc…….. Not interested, I am focused on the primary objectives……. Ignore them at the peril of your neighbors security…. That’s all there is to it….. So yes, get on with some STRONGCONCRETE programs……….. The rest will fall into place, it always has, and it always will…….
Written by .....................STRONGCONCRETE............... on 7/15/2008 - - - - Oh Leur DeJa vue.............................. Ore was that hindsite????
Written by
on 9/24/2009
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I have listened to Steve King on c-span on numerous occaisons... He appears to be a fairly sound minded individual.... I do not think it was so much the 52 billion he begrudged but rather the method in which it would be lump summed and tossed onto the bonfire...... And I believe his reservations were well founded... Or do you forget the blue tarp scams, the refuse hauling scams, and the subsequent wastes of money that occured? At least the man voiced his apprehensions before the facts, or at least tried to do something about things he knew to basically be wrong..... I think he has a Strongconcrete fortitude..... Written by
on 9/24/2009
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Would he have been equally proud to vote against allocating relief funds for the people of Cedar Rapids and others in his state when that flooding occurred -- AFTER Katrina? For the safety of his own political hide I would think not. Written by deanslist2
on 9/23/2009
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Well Jake, if your stamp is the 'gold standard' amongst fiscal conservatives, I would simply have to say; "We are all pretty much screwed then now aren't we"? You aren't conservative, you are merely pithy.... Written by
on 9/23/2009
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I guess Rep. King won't be coming here to campaign for Vitter or Cao. Written by David Quidd
on 9/23/2009
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Interesting 'jab' at Steve King, but I would wonder, as well as the addtional stacks of billions upon billions on top of the 52 billion, how many more times do you think the fed can do something like that for Louisiana, or Florida, or Texas, or if it needs to be done, California, New York, Massachusetts, etc., etc., etc....? 1,464 killed in Louisiana? Divided by 52 billion that equals a little over 35million 500 thousand dollars per incident……. The numbers killed is what you base some kind of worth or value on? Why not 50 dollars each? Why not 50 million dollars each? Why not 500 million dollars each? Yes, the federal government was to blame for the floodwalls failing, but it wasn’t responsible for the deaths…….. The people didn’t evacuate….. The city and the state didn’t evacuate them…… And, it was not federal workers that built the works, it was city and state contractors that built those failed flood protection mediums…. All that is water under the bridge so to speak now……… Are we really looking forward and doing things that benefit ALL with the money that has been sent to New Orleans? Or has it simply become one big pig fest of funds??? And some kind of feeling New Orleans is entitled to MORE? I notice no one on this buzzy bored talks much about the hardships the folks out in Galveston are going through after that Goostooff/Ike thing……………………….. Written by
on 9/23/2009
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I'd like to know what King's vote was on that sickeningly outrageous $300 billion plus farm bill in 2007. I'm just guessing he not only supported it when it was in the legislative development process but that he also voted to override the presidential veto. His chickens or ours, huh? Not much of a fiscal hardliner in my opinion, and among fiscal conservatives my stamp of approval matters. Written by Jacob Sulzbach, Lafayette, La.
on 9/23/2009
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