Bush aid for Katrina frustrates lawmakers
WASHINGTON – Gulf Coast lawmakers, even usually loyal Republicans, are becoming increasingly frustrated and rebellious over the White House’s response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is reacting by pushing legislation that would more than double President Bush’s request for $17 billion to rebuild damaged roads and military bases in Louisiana and Mississippi and help meet other federal obligations.
The president’s request would not require new spending. Instead, it would reallocate money already appropriated for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Cochran said Friday that the president’s package isn’t generous enough to meet the needs of storm victims. He said he’s working to increase the package by $18.4 billion.
Most of the additional money – about $11.5 billion – would give uninsured Katrina flood victims money from the Community Development Block Grant Program to pay off mortgages, repair homes or build new ones.
Cochran also hopes to add $500 million to a variety of social service programs for hurricane victims. He also would provide nearly $4 billion for agriculture relief that isn’t included in the president’s package.
Like many Gulf Coast lawmakers, Cochran has become increasing critical of the administration’s failure to press for more money for hurricane victims and for spending the $60 billion already approved at a pace that they consider too slow. As of last week, $23 billion had been spent.
“It’s been three months, and to have debris still in the way of reconstruction is unacceptable,” Cochran said.
On Friday, Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., said Bush has not kept the promise he made to the nation from New Orleans’ historic Jackson Square three months ago to make sure the federal response to Hurricane Katrina would be “exactly right.”
“Mr. President, we need your leadership to ensure that the federal government fulfills its commitment to help Mississippians get back on their feet,” Lott said. “That isn’t going exactly right, and the nation cannot celebrate its economic recovery until Mississippi is whole again.”
But the White House said there’s no need to increase federal funding for hurricane victims.
“We are continuing to work with Congress and state and local officials to provide needed recovery resources and believe the latest request is the right approach for this stage of the recovery,” said Scott Milburn, spokesman for the Office of Management and Budget.