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Posted on 12/07/2005 4:58:22 PM PST by caryatid
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Former presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, who have raised about $110 million for Hurricane Katrina victims, announced $90 million worth of grants here Wednesday, including $30 million for higher education institutions along the Gulf Coast.
Another $40 million will be divided among the three states hardest hit by Katrina - Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama - and $20 million will go to faith-based organizations.
"Donations we got ranged from the smallest - $16 from a child's lemonade stand - to multimillion-dollar ones from foundations and corporations. Even foriegn governments have given us money to help you begin again," Clinton said to an audience of about 400 on the grounds of the University of New Orleans library.
Bush used the 64th anniversary of Pearl Harbor to exhort the hurricane-hit Gulf Coast to summon the strength to rebuild.
"It was 64 years ago today that America was shocked by the attack on Pearl Harbor, an attack that left the country in a state of shock and our Navy badly wounded," Bush said.
He continued: "But America proved then what we have proved time and again since then: We're strong, we are resourceful, we are determined and working together we're going to prove it again, you're going to prove it again on the Gulf Coast."
Clinton pledged to continue the fund-raising effort. "The American people should know that we have not raised nearly enough money to make you whole," Clinton said.
The Mississippi and Alabama governors' wives - Marsha Dickson Barbour and Patsy Riley, respectively - were on hand to thank the former presidents for the money as was Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco, who compared Bush and Clinton to the biblical wise men for "bringing gifts of money."
Blanco said the money "will provide a significant downpayment for our recovery."
She also thanked the presidents for putting so much money into the hands of faith-based organizations. The governor said "they picked up the slack" during Louisiana's "difficult days" after Katrina and opened many shelters.
Donald Powell, the White House's top hurricane reconstruction official, was also at the event and said President Bush's committment to rebuilding the Gulf Coast "is alive today." He did not provide any specifics.
The $30 million for higher education will go toward repairs, reconstruction and replacement of equipment due to damage on campuses; assistance for students who left school because the school closed or because they had to relocate after the hurricane; salaries and benefits paid to retain and support faculty and staff who could not work because of school closures.
Gov. MeMaw strikes again!
Let's see: The Biblical THREE Wise Men ...[ex-presidents Bush and Clinton ... there is one missing]
...
Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh ... [Bush and Clinton "bringing gifts of money."]
Does this woman have a speech writer?
** Louisiana PING **
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Did Clinton take a time out from bashing Bush Jr? Why Bush Sr hangs around with this guy is a mystery to me. I could no more hang around anyone who talked about my son like Clinton talks about Bush Jr than I could be come a liberal defeatist.
Does Blank0 have two brain cells to call her own.
There is not enough money in the universe to cure Stuck on Stupid.
How much was skimmed off first, I wonder...
After New Orleans get it's share maybe they can get this percentage rate up to the high 20s.
Kathleen Blanco, who compared Bush and Clinton to the biblical wise men for "bringing gifts of money."
----To line you and Nagins pockets with, you selfish bit**.
Not be too picky, but shouldn't that be "reading at or above"?
Thank you. I thought it was intersting to note what part of the problem with our kids learning might be.
What 42 said: "The American people should know that we have not raised nearly enough money to make you whole,"
Does anyone notice the difference in their ideas?
41: Republican self-reliance and self determination:
42: Big Daddy handout government and public/private foundation will take care of you because you are too stupid and incompetent to do it yourself.
Terribly sad that we are worlds apart on what we believe, how we think and how we act.
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