Blanco: New Orleans deserves same reconstruction aid that federal governme

[sabra]

http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051214/NEWS01/51214003

Blanco: New Orleans deserves same reconstruction aid that federal government gives Baghdad

Gov. Kathleen Blanco is telling a U. S. House committee investigating Hurricane Katrina response that she hopes Congress recognizes "the gravity" of Louisiana's situation.
"If we can rebuild Baghdad, we can rebuild New Orleans," Blanco said in her prepared testimony that began at 9:56 a.m. CST.

She's asking Congress for specific help in five specific areas:

Strengthening the levee system and rebuilding coastal wetlands.

- Restoring housing.

- Special tax incentives to businesses and families.

- Increasing funding for health care.

- Providing financial support fordisplaced students and schools.

"Katrina was a natural disaster. The levees failing was a man-made disaster," Blanco said.

[stepnw1f]

1. GOOD ONE!!!!

Keep hittin' em right between the eyes.

[BOSSHOG]

2. How could conservatives possibly object to such a request?

Unless of course, killing innocent iraqi's is a greater priority to conservatives in this country.

[hyphenate]

19. Ask Senator Ted Stevens

of Alaska and he will give you HIS conservative answer. After all, he already refused to give up some of his projects when they were putting together an aid bill earlier this year for NO. I believe one of them was a bridge to nowhere. He's just another selfish bastard, and I think that pretty much goes for all the hardline pukes.

[liberal N proud]

3. Not the same but Better

This is Our country we are talking about, we should have a higher priority to rebuild America before we rebuild the palaces in the sand.

[jus_the_facts]

4. They weren't listening before and they're not listening now Kathy....

.....at least you found the guts to SAY IT...it falls on conveniently deaf and DUMB ASS ears though. :evilfrown:

[0rganism]

5. "the same"? Be careful what you ask for, Kathleen

As far as I know, most of Baghdad still doesn't have 24/7 electricity, and "clean" water there is all about the boiling. Sweetheart no-bid contracts for Halliburton and Bechtel outsourcing reconstruction jobs to foreigners, troops patrolling the streets, yeah, Uncle Dick would be only too happy to oblige you if congress approves the funding.

[funkybutt]

6. I'm listening and it's making me sick!!

This TX congressman just told her how "absolutely unnacceptable" that 1100 people died in ONE day when just double that have died in Iraq. He was scolding her and she said that she agreed that it was unnacceptable just as it has been unacceptable for Louisiana to lose 54 soldiers in Iraq.

Over 1 million people evacuated and TX couldn't pull that off (as we saw as Rita approached).

Yet this guy is going to act like it's more "acceptable" to lose people to an illegal war than a tragic natural disaster.

[Anita Garcia]

20. heard some of it on WWL

I thought Congressman Jefferson did a good job defending the evacuation plan and describing the 5 types of persons who did not or could not evacuate: tourists (airport closed), first responders, elderly (whose care givers had to make difficult decision of whether moving would do more harm), ill and disabled, and poor. His statement implied that the Republicans were trying to blame the deaths on the Governor's evacuation plan. His statement made it clear that he believed the deaths were mainly the result of a man-made disaster (levee) and failure of FEMA to address issues of a natural disaster now that FEMA was placed under Homeland Security.

[JPZenger]

7. Sorry there's no money left

Sorry, Louisiana about all those unkept promises about rebuilding. Our Congress is busy spending all the available cash on Iraq, Halliburton, capital gains tax cuts, and an abolition of all inheritance taxes.

By the way, NBC Nighly News LAST WEEK that there is still a long waiting list for Katrina victims to get temporary RV/trailer housing from FEMA. They interviewed a man who is living in a small camping tent, and an elderly woman who is still living in her car.

[Coexist]

8. Well, I hope its much better than what we've given Baghdad!

But they deserve the same amount of money!!!

[donheld]

9. It should be better than we give Baghdad

It's only right.

[Jacobin]

10. Hell, FEMA is out of flood insurance money

They have told my friends not to expect a check for six months.

If they aren't paying off on insurance policies, what the hell else does anyone think they'll do.

[alfredo]

11. She should just say

"It is obvious to me that you'd rather kill than help, steal than rebuild." I know my pleas will fall on deaf ears, so why am I even sitting here? The people of Louisiana have paid their federal taxes, now we want some of it back. If you refuse, I am pulling all our reserves and Guard out of Iraq, and instructing the citizens of Louisiana to refuse to pay federal taxes. I guess the best thing I can do now is tell you to kiss my ass. I'm out of here."

[Al-CIAda]

15. If only! -nt

[alfredo]

16. If I pay for a service, I expect that service.

[uppityperson]

12. Good one. kick nt

[Maggie_May]

13. I am proud of her she told them the truth

We need to spend our tax dollars here!!!

[Ron Mexico]

14. Repugs are too busy trying to throw refugees out of hotel rooms to

spend any money rebuilding their homes. You silly, silly, bleeding-heart Democrats just don't have your priorities straight. :sarcasm:

[texpatriot2004]

17. Well said Gov Blanco nm

[mom cat]

18. I really like Blanco, but she's wrong on this one. We have not

rebuilt Baghdad.

[Swamp Rat]

21. kick and recommended n/t

[LostinVA]

22. You go, Blanco!

[EFerrari]

23. Kick

[AngryAmish]

24. Blanco/Nagin 08

[superconnected]

25. Well that's going to be a tough decision for congress

give tax money to defense contractors that bribe them or give it to the welfare and good of the state of new orleans.

Somehow I think NO would have only gotten the money if it was still those defense contractors it was going to be spent on. Tax incentives, Health insurance and schools just doesn't strike me as going directly into their pockets.

This IS the coungress that just gave nearly 200 billion in tax cuts to the rich, while taking billions from the poor.

Gee I think it's no mistake about who makes it to congress to handle the hundreds of billions of us tax dollars. I think they've proved corporate ties that want the money straight to the top. But what would I know. I'm just going by repeated evidence.

[Al-CIAda]

26. The locals calling in this morning are voicing their anger with the feds!

The popular reaction to what occured yest. is that the Feds are trying to screw us over and forget about us...lots of anger this morning.

[snacker]

27. Good for her....

somebody needed to say it!

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

28. Well if NO bends over for Halliburton and Bechtel they just might get it.

NOT!