President Bush on Tuesday signed the 459 billion Defense Appropriations Act which covers a variety of items which includes $3 billion dollars for the Road Home program made necessary due to Katrina and Rita and which covers $2 billion in Louisiana projects.
Also, on Tuesday, Bush vetoed a major spending measure that would have funded education, health care and job training programs. Bush said the bill contained too many special projects.
U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today commented on President Bush’s signing this morning of the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Appropriations Act. “The President’s signature on this bill caps Louisiana’s historic $12 billion day in Congress last week. It means no more waiting, no more worrying what will happen with this vital funding. It is now law, and provides much-needed peace of mind to thousands of homeowners who were starting the holiday season unsure of whether the Road Home would be there for them.
“This funding does not completely address the Road Home shortfall, nor many of the other challenges we face in our continued recovery. But it is a significant step forward in all of these efforts.
“I met today with Governor Blanco and Governor-elect Jindal as we thanked many of my Senate colleagues for their support and laid out the challenges that remain for the future. This is a time of transition, but there will be no change in our resolve and commitment. As I said to Governor-elect Jindal on Election Night – Louisiana’s fights are our fights, and we will fight them together.”
Governor-elect Bobby Jindal made the following comments concerning President Bush’s signature of the Defense Appropriations Act:
“I am very pleased that the President has just signed the legislation securing $3 billion toward the Road Home Program. This is a tremendous victory for our state and a critical step in ensuring the federal government keeps its commitment to the people of Louisiana. I am deeply grateful for the generosity of the American people and our government as they aid in the continuing recovery of thousands of Louisianians. I look forward to meeting with several legislators in Washington, D.C. today along with Governor Blanco to say ‘thank you’ and highlight our state’s ongoing needs as we continue to recover and rebuild.”
Governor and governor-elect have gone to Washington to show the gratitude of Louisiana for the funds Congress has sent us. Yes, they have expressed gratitude that the federal government has deigned to provide us with funding to recover our lives from a flood caused in part by federal misfeasance. If a car is destroyed by a fissure in a highway poorly constructed by the state, it is polite, but not necessarily appropriate, that the owner of the vehicle thank the state for contributing to the repair. The Bush-Cheney administration has a motto, it appears: Billions for war, not one cent for defense! They lied to manipulate us into wars of conquest, and they deserve impeachment. Representative Kucinich introduced House Bill 333 to impeach Cheney this week, and our spineless Democrats under Representative Pelosi sent it to the Judiciary Committee, where a once-courageous Representative Conyers can sit on it like a dodo on its egg. We can demand that the bill be debated in the full House, the way it is usually done in a real democracy. We can call the Judiciary Committee at 202.225.3951 to ask that the bill be reported to the House. Perhaps I am naive to think it matters, but I choose to be naive. Written by Robert Desmarais Sullivan
on 11/15/2007
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