Nearly $2 billion in Katrina aid unclaimed

[Catherine Vincent]

March 9, 2006, 5:58PM
Nearly $2 billion in Katrina aid unclaimed

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Nearly $2 billion in federal disaster aid for Katrina evacuees is sitting unclaimed more than six months after lawmakers approved the emergency funding.

Congress approved a $2 billion block grant program in September for displaced Gulf Coast families — regardless of income — to help them get back on their feet after the Aug. 29 storm.

But only 11 states have made requests totaling $25.5 million in aid so far, according to the Health and Human Services Department. Several states said they didn't want the bureaucratic hassle, or weren't certain if displaced families qualified for aid under the program.

"The funds are there, and it's deeply troubling they're not being used," said Mark Greenberg, executive director of the Task Force on Poverty at the Washington-based Center for American Progress. "These funds could be used right now to help families in tremendous need."

It's unclear how many displaced families are missing out on the funds from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. Several states say they are opting to provide assistance out of their own pockets, while in other cases families with higher incomes who are eligible aren't seeking the aid.

more.....
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3713231.html

----------------

Unbelievable!

[HeeBGBz]

1. Damn

Give up the cash. People need help and these people are making money on the interest of it sitting in some bank account?

[napi21]

2. I don't understand this! Why do they make it so difficult?

If it's Fed funds, why isn't there a direct Fed access? I don't want to hear that they have to do through the States because people wouldn't know about it! CNN, MSNBC, ABS, CBS, ABS and the treat could easily broadcast the way to access!

Can't the people in Washington get ANYTHING right?

I admit, even I might be eligible to some kind of aid because of a disability, but I don't know of any. But this was a National Disaster, why not treat it on a National level and omit the additional level of bureaucracy?

[Catherine Vincent]

3. Red state tape.

[Warpy]

4. They don't want to spend it on PEOPLE! They are terrified

someebody might get an extra ten bucks or so and that would cause the whole system to crash down around their ears. If they don't disburse it, then nobody will be able to steal any nickels and dimes of it. If they sit on it, they won't run the risk of having any of it go astray buying silly things like food or medicine.

That's how those assholes think. They're so terrified that one person out there might get a little extra that they deny relief to thousands.

[napi21]

5. No, that doesn't make sense to me, and I learned many years ago,

if it doesnt make sense, something's wrong. I've never had that phylosophy proven wrong either.

If the Feds were so concerned about a few extra bucks "stolen off the top, they wouldn't have the loop holes in Medicare, Medicaid, and every other program they run. There's something else at work here, but I haven't been able to figure out just what it is yet.

[harlinchi]

6. They haven't figured out how to spend it properly yet.

The GOP considers every 'problem' to be an opportunity to further rip off the taxpayer. Since there has been no effective way established to funnel the bulk of this money to the approved companies, it has not yet been spent. Recall that reconstruction dollars went unspent in Iraq when once Halliburton frauds and thefts were being reported. Of course now that they're off the newpages, Halliburton is only getting more fraud dough. I believe they are to receive money in dispute regardless of the dispute!

Once the GOP figures how to get those billions to companies like those of Gov. Barbour's relatives, the Katrina money will be distributed.