Here's what Rep. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) did to prevent this disaster.

[barbaraann]

House Subcommittee Votes to Pass Jindal Bill Preventing Discrimination after Natural Disasters
H.R. 3208 would require that the Federal Emergency Management Agency not discriminate on the basis of religion when awarding disaster grants

Washington, Jul 14 - The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings & Emergency Management today debated and passed H.R. 3208, a bill introduced by Congressman Bobby Jindal (LA-01) that allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide disaster relief to eligible faith-based social organizations.

"FEMA was created to help America rebuild after disasters," Jindal said. "It was not created to be a force for those seeking to remove religion from all public dialogue, though that is its effect when it won't assist religious facilities in their rebuilding efforts. This law requires that American disaster assistance apply to all Americans."

H.R. 3208 codifies into law a directive of the President from December of 2002, which called on FEMA to provide disaster relief to eligible faith-based social organizations. The President's directive was issued in response to a 2001 incident where the Seattle Hebrew Academy was denied relief funds after the school was damaged in the Nisqually Earthquake on grounds that the school was not open to "the general public." This law makes permanent that ruling, preventing it from being modified or revoked with future changes of the presidency.

"Natural disasters don't chose who they affect based on religion," Jindal added. "Likewise, the federal government should not use religion as a basis for deciding who to help when cleaning up after those disasters. FEMA's responsibility is to help rebuild communities and to try to make lives whole again. That effort requires community wide, not targeted, selective, and potentially discriminatory, actions. This administration has already taken a positive step forward in protecting all disaster victims. This bill furthers that effort, making sure that the force of American law prevents this sort of discrimination in the future."
...
http://jindal.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=30585

Am I insane to think that he should have been thinking about wind and water damage and saving lives instead of religious organizations not receiving disaster funds? Have I gone mad?

[Katidid]

1. No, You haven't gone mad . . . . but some of the people in this

country are acting as though they have rabies.

"Am I insane to think that he should have been thinking about wind and water damage and saving lives instead of religious organizations not receiving disaster funds? Have I gone mad?"

[rodeodance]

2. this boils down to Bush's faith based inititative. Their only concern is

to push it. simple as that.

[Ioo]

3. This law makes permanent that ruling, preventing it from being modified or

"This law makes permanent that ruling, preventing it from being modified or revoked with future changes of the presidency."

So now we are going to make all things set in stone?

[barbaraann]

4. Just like the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments.

Some people cannot deal with gray areas in life, it seems.

[patdem]

5. BUT these religious organizations CAN discriminate? Do I have it

correct? :shrug:

[Toots]

6. "American disaster assistance apply to all Americans."

Since when did a Church become an American. I thought Church was about the people not a building. If all the people have been aided by the government wouldn't it be giving those people double the aid? People make the church and they utilize their own means and those means should by Constitutional definition be seperate from the government. I don't wish to deprive anyone of anything but there are far more beneficial means of distributing American tax payer's money other than giving it to the church.

[wli]

7. welcome to Amerikkka ... all theocracy all the time n/t

[mcscajun]

8. Check the FEMA website; the "how you can help" section...

...after The American Red Cross, every single organization listed is faith-based. On our Federal Government's website; how fucked up is that?

[barbaraann]

9. Stunning.

n/t