6 Years Later, Katrina Victims Fight FEMA Debts

AP via Yahoo News ^ | 28 Dec 2011 | Michelle Kunzelman

[edpc]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — When the Federal Emergency Management Agency mailed out 83,000 debt notices this year to victims of Hurricane Katrina and other 2005 storms, one of the letters showed up in David Bellinger's mailbox. Bellinger, who is blind, needed a friend to read it and break the news that FEMA wants him to pay back more than $3,200 in federal aid he received after Katrina.

[edpc]

Last week, however, Congress approved legislation that would allow FEMA to waive many of the debts. President Barack Obama signed the measure — part of a $1 trillion spending package — into law last Friday.

Of course.

[cardinal4]

The Katrina Card; when the Race Card, Teacher Card, or Children just wont work anymore..

[dfwgator]

Did anybody doubt that most of these debts would be forgiven? Especially in an election year.

[trumandogz]

“Did anybody doubt that most of these debts would be forgiven? Especially in an election year.”

Good thing the Republicans are firmly in control of the House of Representatives as they are sure to put a stop to this nonsense!

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Louisiana Democrat who sponsored the provision, said disaster victims shouldn't be punished because FEMA was "dysfunctional."

Talk about the understatement of the year. Of course is there ANY Gubmint Bureaucracy which is NOT???

[dfwgator]

All things considered, FEMA did quite well. The Democrats blew it out of proportion to make Bush look bad, and the sheeple ate it up.

[apillar]

Last week, however, Congress approved legislation that would allow FEMA to waive many of the debts...

Yeah... I imagine they were just bowing to reality. Most will never even make the slightest attempt to pay these debts back. I'm under the impression that about the only action the government can take, other than sending out letters is to seize tax returns and you have to actually work, (not under the table) to get anything back from the IRS.

[Roccus]

Good thing the Republicans are firmly in control of the House of Representatives as they are sure to put a stop to this nonsense!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Post of the day!!!!!

[BenLurkin]

They might want to look at the paperwork they signed. It might just, maybe, possibly, conceivably, show that they agreed to repay the assistance.

[zeugma]

All things considered, FEMA did quite well. The Democrats blew it out of proportion to make Bush look bad, and the sheeple ate it up.

The biggest problem with the entire situation was the local response by nagin, and the LA governor, whose name escapes me at the moment. The press was singularly disgusting in how they let the local officials deflect blame to Bush.

FEMA is extraordinarily wasteful of resources when it comes to providing actual assistance to actual people, but they are good at doing all the government paperwork that comes with any federal involvement.

[Niteranger68]

Never trust anyone who expects you to put a higher value on their well-being than they are willing to pay.

[wolficatZ]

He needs to pay because he’s...white.

[EyeGuy]

“Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Louisiana Democrat who sponsored the provision, said disaster victims shouldn’t be punished because FEMA was “dysfunctional.””

#####

No, Commie Mary.

FAR and AWAY the most “dysfunctional” group in that whole, never-ending charade, are the individual dependency addicted/entitlement sloths that infest NOLA.

Personal responsibility and initiative?

Who dat?