Reid criticizes amount, direction of relief funds

[NVMojo]

Sept. 9

WASHINGTON -- Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid on Thursday said the $51.8 billion in hurricane relief sought by President Bush this week is not enough, and he complained that more than 90 percent of the money would go to an agency widely criticized for its disaster response.

"After everything that has happened with FEMA, is there anyone -- anyone -- who believes that we should continue to let the money go to FEMA and be distributed by them?" Reid said during a news conference including 18 Democratic senators.

Reid offered a Democratic alternative, which he said would bypass FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and provide hurricane survivors with relief right away.

more...

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Sep-09-Fri-2005/news/27178973.html

[ClintonTyree]

1. And how much of that money will actually REACH the affected areas

and how much will be pocketed by bush cronies who are given fat, no-bid contracts to rebuild the Gulf Coast? Whenever there's Federal money lying around with no one watching, it always seems to "come up missing". This will be another windfall for Republican donors, just like the missing 7 Billion in Iraq that no one can find.

[Wordie]

2. ...the article doesn't say what is the alternative the Dems are proposing.

Anybody have any more info on this?

[cornermouse]

3. The article says he's offering a democratic alternative, but

doesn't appear to say what or where the alternative is.

I think the first priority is making sure we do whatever can be done for the victims and that the Bush Corporation actually lives up to the promises of help made so far. There appears to be some possibility that they aren't. But I also think the investigative process needs to be assembled and set into motion.

We just don't know when the next disaster will hit and given the total lack of aid from the federal government this time around, we need to start looking for the reasons so that hopefully we can prevent this from happening again to someone else.

The republicans have taken their "cut the size of government" campaign too far and have proven the truth in the old adage "penny wise, pound foolish".