Miss. Gov. Blames Feds for Stalled Recovery

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5463686,00.html

Miss. Gov. Blames Feds for Stalled Recovery


WASHINGTON (AP) - Congressional failures to approve emergency funding for roads, schools and housing construction have stalled Mississippi efforts to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina, the state's Republican governor testified Wednesday.

Without such help, Mississippi businesses are unable to decide where to relocate and rebuild - potentially costing the state jobs and chilling its economy, said Gov. Haley Barbour. His comments were among the sharpest criticism by a top Republican from the hardest-hit states of Congress and Bush administration relief efforts.

``We are at a point where our recovery and renewal efforts are stalled because of inaction in Washington, D.C., and the delay has created uncertainty that is having very negative effects on our recovery and rebuilding,'' said Barbour, a strong ally of House Speaker Dennis Hastert and former Republican National Committee chairman.

...


Republican lawmakers on the panel, chaired by Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., said Katrina aid no longer appears to be a high congressional priority.