As Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill) said, “that’s shameful”
At a U.S. Homeland Security Field Hearing on Monday, Obama talked about “whether we’re in danger of actually forgetting New Orleans,” and he said, “That’s shameful.”
But, even more so, as evidence is becoming more apparent, it is shameful that the federal response has been so slow and despite recent comments from Louisiana U.S. Senator David Vitter that the issue is more state and local, the facts are proving otherwise.The clog comes from Washington.
Had Vitter been at the hearing (although he was invited) he would have heard Gulf Coordinator Donald Powell admit that federal aid to Louisiana was not equal to that of Mississippi.However, the damage to Louisiana was substantially more than that of Mississippi.
He would have heard Powell say that Congress had put a cap on how much aid money any one state could get.
"There should be a need for more money," Powell testified. "We will discuss that."
Oh, yeah, when?
When New Orleans shrivels up and die?
When George Bush falls off the statue horse in Jackson Square?
No wonder President Bush failed to mention New Orleans, Katrina and Louisiana during his state of the Union address.Saying the state of the Katrina money flow was good would have been a lie.
How can one state get more money than the other although they suffered far less damage?How could a Congress allow a cap on how much aid money any one state could get under these incredible circumstances?
No wonder that Mayor Nagin has had tremendous time in getting money to his city.Nagin said he wants more money "but what I am more interested in is getting this money flowing quicker."
"This recovery is not moving as fast as it needs to move, and you are going to hear lots of justifications as to why it's not happening," Nagin said "But from my perspective, not having resources at the local level is the absolute killer of this recovery."
President Bush can talk all he wants that he has provided 110 million dollars for Katrina, but so far the money is not getting there largely due to federal bureaucracy and federal rules that his administration did very little to remedy.How else can you explain the discrimination of one state over another and the actual knowledge that this disparity was happening.
Now, the main question we all must ask is why has President Bush and some members of Congress allow this to occur?Why has it taken a hearing by a Democratic controlled Congress to get some basic facts about the discrimination against a state and the clog of money holding up a city wanting to recover?
pointecoupeedemocrat...come get these deadbeat and take them back to your paradise. The children came here from your paradise..attended school stating they were impressed that they had books and that our schools actually had utilities. What do you people do in regard to public education?
Written by Larry from Texas
on 2/1/2007
Maybe Brownie had a point. it was and continues to be political as to how aid is distributed. But then again, we don't have clean hands in this. Why we are paying that company operating the road home program to do nothing is beyond me, or is it by design? Why won't Nagin do more? Maybe he needs to curse on the radio show again to get things moving. There does not appear to be a sense of emergency about this thing. Nothing will happen to change the situation unless or until the majority begins to complain LOUDLY!! The brain drain shall begin. We have got to get together and do something for our NEW ORLEANS!!
Written by I luv N.O.
on 1/31/2007
The money is not there because there is still racism in this country and those that control the money give it to who they think will support white men running for public office.
Written by Carlo Santarelli
on 1/31/2007
Where is all that money Louisiana was going to get? So far it seem s that the bulk of the work being done in New Orleans for rebuilding is being done by volunteers from all over America as well as MANY MANY MANY individual donors working with nonprofits like Habitat For HUMANITY, Common Ground in Algiers, Americore, and on and on and on. But where is our United States of America's government money and workers? The amount of money we are spending in one day in IRAQ. that we are borrowing from the Chinese government, could be used to build how many homes? What about cleaning up the toxins and all the horrific trash,(which once was homes, all that a person/family treasured and had collected over a lifetime), left in New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina still sitting there TODAY.
Where is the help to rebuild the city that was torn to shreds????? WHY IS MISSISSIPPI getting more funds, quicker? It's all talk and no action on a large scale. It is shameful.
I am so ashamed of our governments response to my favorite city in my country. We take all the oil Louisiana will produce and use it gladly but why don't the GIGANTIC PROFITS IN THE OIL INDUSTRY GO TOWARDS REBUILDING LOUISIANA AFTER KATRINA, AND THE
HURRICANE WE HAVE COMPLETELY FORGOT, HURRICANE RITA! I think the people of Louisiana are an eclectic group of people much like the many ways you can make gumbo, a melting pot of wonder and joy. thank you.
Written by cc milgrom
on 1/31/2007
1) I've been registered "no party" for over 25 years and don't judge candidates on what letter appears after their name. It's unjust and appalling that La. has not been treated equally in relation to Mississippi.
2) I believe that in the LONG-Run (however painful), it will be proven that La. officials made the right decision, unlike the Feds, Mississippi, N.O., and local government, to audit on the "front-end" and NOT the "back-end" ALL fund distribution!!
Written by runnerBR
on 1/31/2007
It is appalling that no one is investigating Ray Nagin and his lack of movement in making this city function as it should. Where is the outrage for that? Where is the investigation in to why Governor Blanco is paying someone millions of dollars to do nothing? Why was her husband involved? Isn't that illeagel? No wonder the federal government does not trust the local government to handle these large sums of money. They are completely incompetent and corrupt!
Written by Domino
on 1/31/2007
The whole nation saw what happened when the "rules" and "documentation" was removed in favor of speed. Estimates vary but a lot of taxpayer dollars were thown away by fraud. You cannot make me believe that young men should be allowed to stay in hotels at the expense of the taxpayer for a year after Katrina. Anyone worth "helping" would have gotten a job (there are plenty out there) and found a more permanent housing situation. Entitlement is a way of life for some. Also comparing Katrina assistance and the war in Iraq is apples and oranges. My guess is that no matter how much money would go to Louisiana, it would never be enough for some.
Written by Sharon
on 1/31/2007
WHAT WE ALL NEED NOW IS TO DISCUSS A BIG...OR MAYBE HUGE FUND-RAISING FESTIVAL OF LOUISIANA MUSIC & CULTURE, SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO "LIVE AID" (1985) OR "LIVE 8" (2005). THIS WOULD ALSO HAVE PLENTY OF POSITIVE SIDE-EFFECTS FOR THE LONG-TERM. IS ANYONE OUT THERE INTERESTED IN JOINING OR STARTING SUCH A PROJECT? PLEASE CONTACT ME AT diga28@netscape.net I LIVE IN MONTREAL, QC (CANADA)
Written by Anthony
on 1/31/2007
There is a complete accounting in the City, the State, HUD, FEMA, double accounting for money spent. Part of the problem is the incredible accounting that is required. Now, while I support the Iraq war, try comparing the billions spent and the accounting done. As far as Nagin, there has never been anything said about his lack of honesty or corruption. He has made a number of mistakes and is getting better with his off the cuff remarks, but, nobody credible has accused him of doing anything improper. So, try getting your accounting information from the sources above. There is plenty, plenty of documentation. Now, check with Iraq and see where your tax dollars are going.
Plus, the issue here is that the Bush administration knew of the discrimination in terms of dollars. They have systematically and continuously allowed it to happen to Louisiana's detriment. Think about it. Knowing that one state is getting much more money per capita than the other yet, the second has lightyears more damage. Now, is that fair? No, it is politics.
Written by Bayoubuzz Admin
on 1/31/2007
And why is someone Texas complaining about money for Louisiana, when Republican Senators from Texas tried to take our money in order to pay for what they deem the overcrowding of their schools in the wake of Katrina and Rita. Your state has some of the most corrupt and incompetent people in public office. Before asking us to perform a full audit of money to which you feel entitled, I recommend you write your Senators and ask them why their public school system always needs more money. You should also ask them why George Bush's brother was able to sell ineffective and overpriced education software to the Texas Public School system.
Written by pointecoupeedemocrat
on 1/30/2007
I need to know right now...how much more money do you need? Somebody give me an amount...right now! The fact that you re-elected Nagin shows that you are not serious about recovery. Also...where has the money gone? What has it been spend on? I want to know...
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