It's tax revenues because the port is down, the hotels aren't doing convention and tourist business. and a major CBD isn't functioning.
New Orleans is a whole lot more than welfare mothers, which some people seem to forget.
It's railroads, and shipping, and petrochem and industry, if not in NO proper, then right in the same area. The city of New Orleans may have lots of poor people, but Metairie, Kenner, St. Charles Parish, St. Bernard Parish, Plaquemines Parish and so on do a lot of business. A lot of people live in those parishes and work in New Orleans.
They buy stuff. They make stuff. They build stuff. They sell stuff. Or did before the storm, and will do so again.
Lots of taxes get paid. Or did. And no doubt, will do so again.
Yeah, uh-huh. So when do I get my d--n $200 billion back?
You know what the problem is don't you? Too many people think New Orleans is only the French Quarter and Mardi Gras. They don't realize it's one of our few deep water ports and the 5th largest port in the world.
They don't realize it's not just petroleum but also steel, gypsum, exports from states which border the Missississippi and so much more.
All they know of New Orleans is the latest Girls Gone Wild video. Besides, if it isn't their city that's devastated why should they be concerned it it gets rebuilt or not. They don't have a clue the economy of the Gulf Coast affects the whole of the United States.