Posted on 01/24/2007 4:19:17 PM PST by Ellesu
President Bush miffed some people in Louisiana, not necessarily by what he said in Tuesday night's State of the Union Address, but by what he didn't say. He did not mention Hurricane Katrina recovery. Governor Kathleen Blanco was visibly angry on Wednesday.
In last year's State of the Union, you heard the president speak of Katrina, but people who remain in FEMA trailers say the lack of mention this year leaves them angry.
One person we spoke with says, "It doesn't make no sense what he is doing. And now he's asking for more money for troops to go to Iraq."
Another says, "Shock. Because in our world down here, it's the biggest thing happening."
Those comments were gathered at the Mount Olive Garden FEMA trailer park Wednesday. Tuesday night's speech, by the way, comes just a day after former FEMA director, Mike Brown accused some in the White House of playing politics in the immediate aftermath of the hurricanes.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2007
www.gov.state.la.us CONTACT: MARIE CENTANNI
225-342-9037
Governor Blanco continues fight for Louisiana's fair share of federal recovery aid
NEW ORLEANS - Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco delivered the following remarks outlining disproportionate federal funding for communities recovering from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and in response to the President's failure to include Louisiana's unprecedented recovery as a national priority during his State of the Union address:
Remarks by Gov. Blanco:
"Did you see the State of the Union last night? I did, and was surprised and disappointed that the President had nothing to say about the Gulf Coast. He had nothing to say about Louisiana. And he had nothing to say about the massive recovery that still lies before us. Our recovery may be yesterday's news in Washington, but it's very real here at home.
"Over the past two days I've called attention to Michael Brown and the broken code of silence regarding partisan politics. When our people's lives were in danger, political operatives in the White House were playing politics.
Their target was me, but the real victims have been the people of our state.
"He said, "Unbeknownst to me, certain people in the White House were thinking, we had to federalize Louisiana because she's a white, female Democratic Governor and we have a chance to rub her nose in it."
"'We can't do it to Haley because Haley's a white male Republican governor. And we can't do a thing to him. So we're just going to federalize Louisiana."
"To the citizens out there watching these news reports, let me tell you how this dirty politics affects your lives.
"It has delayed our recovery by over six months; and
"It has shortchanged the federal dollars available to help us recover.
"Too many of our people are still hurting. Every day that you are not able to come home, and every day that you have to dig deeper into your pockets to cover the costs of repairs is a day that could have been prevented.
"I'm calling on the new Congress to work with us to guarantee that Louisiana receives its rightful share of the total recovery funding, on a proportional basis.
"We have never asked for a penny more than we deserve, but we will continue to insist on receiving every justifiable cent.
"We have faced month after month of the aftermath of what Michael Brown has finally identified as the rawest kind of politics.
"Today I want to carefully outline the inequities and unfairness Louisianans have received at the hands of opportunistic politicians.
"Louisiana had nearly 80% of the storm damage from two hurricanes received only 55% of federal relief funds. Mississippi, with 23% of the damage, received 45% of the relief funds.
"This is far more money proportionately, and they received it a full six months ahead of us. Our Road Home progress was delayed six months due to this disparity.
"Earlier this month, FEMA announced the Katrina Cottage housing program. Mississippi has 31,000 families living in trailers, and received $280 million in funding for Katrina Cottages. Louisiana has 64,000 families living in trailers, but FEMA gave us only $74 million.
"A few days ago, Secretary Leavitt called to tell me that Louisiana would only receive 45% of the funding for hospitals.
"This is unbelievable, considering Louisiana lost 97% of our hospital beds along the Gulf Coast. Mississippi got 38% of the funding, even though they only lost 3% of the Gulf Coast hospital beds. They lost only 79 beds to our more than 2600 beds.
"Louisiana and Mississippi both received $95 million for higher education. This is outrageous, considering Louisiana had 76%, or 84,000, of the displaced students, and three times as many universities as Mississippi.
"Both Louisiana and Mississippi received $100 million for displaced K-12 students, in spite of the fact that Louisiana had 69%, or 176,000 of the displaced student. This is compared to Mississippi's 31%.
"We must not stand for this second class citizenship any longer. The patterns are clear, and they continue into this month with the recent announcements about health care and the Katrina Cottages.
"I'm asking Congress to investigate this outrageous partisan treatment of our State. We must put an end to it.
"And I'm going to ask Congress to put an end once and for all to the great disparities in funding. It's unfair, inequitable and unacceptable.
"Thank you."
http://keelson.eatel.net/websites/la.gov/action.cfm?md=communication&task=addClick&msg_ID=3202&ID=e%7Elngfi%3Dg%3Cid&redirect=http://www.gov.state.la.us/assets/docs/01%2024%2007%20Speaker%20Pelosi.pdf
letter from Blanco to Nancy Pelosi
Blanco, you dim bimbo. A governor is supposed to lead. Emoting is Oprah's job.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
I say take their FEMA trailers back.
Why should we listen to a bunch of losers?
Mississippi has more welfare queens than Louisiana.
These people need to get a job. If they can't find one where they are, then they need to move. We aren't going to support these welfare cases forever.
For some reason this reads: Increase federal largesse for the remaining 48 States too.
Do you think everyone in a FEMA trailer is jobless?
Tell those ungrateful losers that there is good news for them and to start packing, because they're about to be drafted as part of that 20,000+ surge heading to Iraq.
(of course most of them would probably never pass muster for qualifying for military service, but it would sure make them pucker up a bit below the waist, eh?)
The President didn't mention me either. Should I be upsat?
These people want perpetual, open-ended welfare.
Another says, "Shock. Because in our world down here, it's the biggest thing happening."
And another one said, Shoot, when is I gonna get me free cable TV with HDTV hookup for my FEMA trailer. If I hadn't stole no big screen, then I really would be hurtin'.
It's Bush's fault that I ain't got HDTV."
FEMA Trailers To Be Used As 'Tornado Bait' ;)
http://www.ecoenquirer.com/fema-trailers.htm
Darn if I would be out of my house years later - I would have shoveled out the mud, and kept going.
Of course, I don't live below sea level.
I will agree that alot of them are. In Gulfport the police raided a FEMA trailer park over run with dealers and the scum of the earth.
Just remember there are a few of us, that are still waiting for homes, and it's the new city codes that are killing us. My family have been waiting for our home since December.
The Lady is going too rent too own her old home too us, she can't get her new home up yet because of strict codes, and the contracters she hired skipped town.
We try, many don't though I will agree with that.
..the trailer people should be asking Busboy Nagan how come $600 million or so still sits in Washington DC ?. Maybe because Jefferson's freezer was full? Maybe ask Blinko?
Doogle
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