Senator: $70 billion in federal Katrina aid not enough (Collins)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-01-17-katrina-congress_x.htm

WASHINGTON (AP) — In the months since hurricanes smashed into the Gulf Coast, the federal government has set aside nearly $70 billion for emergency relief and long-term recovery programs.

That's not enough, says Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

"The devastation is so widespread that a sustained federal commitment is going to be necessary," Collins, who was leading a delegation to the battered region on Tuesday, said in a recent interview. "I think Congress realizes that, but there's also a growing concern about whether the money is well spent."

Senators will visit both of those places — nearly obliterated by Hurricane Katrina's high winds and flood waters on Aug. 29 — and tour parts of New Orleans while inspecting progress on rebuilding its levees. They also plan to conduct a hearing on recovery efforts.

(end snip)

What?? Oversight?? 4 1/2 months later, and they are just now seeing??

It's only when we spend OUR money on our poor or working class does this become a concern. I wonder why there is not such similar "growing concern" about the trillions spent in Iraq.

bank is broke.

Tht's YOUR legacy, Ms. Collins !:puke:

sub-contractors,and the basics like drinkable water, and restoraton of electricity, REAL clean-up and repair of average-guy neighborhoods...has NOT been spent on the every-man's neighborhoods... which the Admin. has NO INTENTION of returning to the poor, but instead acutioning off, and claiming for their own. The "new" FEMA is NOT about restoration and recovery of the original neighborhoods...its about eminent domain theft.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED to all those billions donated to Red Cross? Especially since the Red Cross in a lot of cases did NOT even "come into" the truly needy areas (for fear of misconstrued personal danger, we are told).

The fact that body recovery was never even completed, or proper DNA testing, autopsies were hardly done, if at all... is appalling.

To give these Admin. "thieves" more Billions for Recovery money, which of course will only line the pockets of sub-consractors...and NEVER make it to the people who need it...is said indeed.

On of their groups - the shaw group, was there. It had previously been the IT group that cleaned up anthrax.

You posted

The Red Cross did not go into certain areas because they were ORDERED AND DIRECTED BY FEMA NOT TO.

The Red Cross is not the United States Army or the Police or the Sheriff. If they break a police line- they will be arrested. And, no, the Red Cross is not accompanied by platoons of American Civil Liberties Union lawyers to get them out of jails.


My own experience - the Red Cross and other NGO's were kept out so that they could not see and report on the GOP gamesmanship in the affected areas.



My opinion - but I was "boots on the ground."

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/_/id/8952492

I guess ol suzy doesnt read Rolling Stone.