Black lawmakers want more say in Katrina recovery

AP via NOLA ^ | 11/3/2005 | JEFFREY McMURRAY

[ncountylee]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Black lawmakers asked on Thursday for more influence in the federal effort to rebuild the Gulf Coast, proposing legislation to address social problems they say the Republican-led Congress is overlooking.

All 42 U.S. House members of the Congressional Black Caucus have signed on to the measure, which includes a long list of health, housing and education provisions. It also would guarantee victims a monetary grant similar to the ones doled out for victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The caucus' chairman, Rep. Mel Watt, D-N.C., said he didn't have a cost estimate because it was unclear how many Gulf Coast residents have been forced to move. He floated $200 billion as a ballpark figure for the overall recovery.

"One of the things we're worried about is that our government, perhaps, would just as soon forget about those people and let them go where they are and fend for themselves," Watt said. "That is inconsistent with what we said as a nation we would do for the victims of this hurricane."

At a news conference, Watt and other caucus members suggested that the Bush administration has ignored their advice about the federal response to Hurricane Katrina, even though a large percentage of hurricane victims were black.

"It would be the height of irresponsibility on the part of the president, on the part of this Republican-led Congress, not to make sure that the Congressional Black Caucus has a seat at the table as a strong, genuine partner," said Rep. David Scott, D-Ga.

The bill would create a victim restoration fund, modeled after the one for terror victims, in which a special master would evaluate how much each victim should be paid in order to rebuild his home to "pre-Katrina condition."

[ncountylee]

create a victim restoration fund, modeled after the one for terror victims

This would cost trillions.

[Danae]

How about the "Leadership" in Louisiana take charge?

What a freaking revolutionary thought...

[Onelifetogive]

"It would be the height of irresponsibility on the part of the president, on the part of this Republican-led Congress, not to make sure that the Congressional Black Caucus has a seat at the table as a strong, genuine partner," said Rep. David Scott, D-Ga.

No problem...but first you need to go out and win a majority of the elections for House and Senate seats. That's how the process works.

[sourcery]

Not Yours To Give

[kromike]

...victim restoration fund...

The long coveted Racial Reparations, by any other name...

[Fenris6]

"make sure that the Congressional Black Caucus has a seat at the table as a strong, genuine partner," said Rep. David Scott, D-Ga.

No way. The Congressional Black Caucus are all racist scum.

[308MBR]

I guess if blacks hadn't aborted those 20 million some odd babies and raised them not to commit felonies, there would be a lot more black voters.

[goodnesswins]

"This would cost trillions."

Of course. That's what they want. I'm so glad I don't work and pay income or social security taxes.....LOL....I make my husband do THAT.

[MissAmericanPie]

They can't have more say, that would be racist, and maybe against the best interest of the minority caucasion/latin/asian population of New Orleans.

[GeronL]

These people are insane

[JLAGRAYFOX]

These lunatic rantings are exactly why Black folk in America have no political power whatsoever. And.....what little political power they have, they are frittering away rapidly. Sad, and a continued waste of humanity led by the Congressional Black Caucus and the Democrat Party.

[ComputerGuy]

...proposing legislation to address social problems they say the Republican-led Congress is overlooking.
There can't be any social problems left after 40 years of liberalism/great society giveaways.

[agere_contra]

I want about three-fiddy.

[Captain Rhino]

"It would be the height of irresponsibility on the part of the president, on the part of this Republican-led Congress, not to make sure that the Congressional Black Caucus has a seat at the table as a strong, genuine partner," said Rep. David Scott, D-Ga.

No. Since it is desirable that the Katrina recovery effort come to a successful end at some reasonable point in time, it would be the height of irresponsibility to give a seat at the table to the Congressional Black Caucus. The Caucus is all about promoting the perpetual victim-hood of blacks in spite of decades of Federal antipoverty assistance.