The Congress can do two things that I can think of right off the top of my head:
1) They can lay out the failings of Noggin and Blanche-o Dubois in all their gory detail. This may not be reported by the MSM.
2) They can direct where every penny of the $52 billion relief package is spen, if they have the votes. I suppose what I mean is that if they can cut open the corrupt, pus-filled tumor that is the corpse of LA politics, and spread it out on the table, then even if the msm won't report it, the stench might be enough to withhold the graft from the grifters and see that something gets done.
Personally I'd rather see a military governor appointed like in Reconstruction, but I suppose that isn't going to happen.
If Bush were going to do that, he shoulda done it in time to do some good - before Katrina hit, in time to evacuate NO. 'Course that's foolishness; how would the National Guard/Army go about evacuating a citizenry which didn't trust them and (in many cases) wouldn't even evacuate after NO was inundated?But obviously, FReepers don't trust Gov. Blanco. Certainly the Federal government shouldn't simply shovel gigabucks in the general direction of NO and just trust that it'll find its way into actual reconstruction of NO. Let NO/LA either fend for itself in reconstruction, or let them agree to close federal control over the work we pay for. No governmental disbursement without representation!