Black lawmakers want more say in Katrina recovery

[sabra]

http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.ssf?/base/news-20/1131050943315933.xml&storylist=louisiana

Black lawmakers want more say in Katrina recovery

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Black lawmakers asked on Thursday for more influence in the federal effort to rebuild the Gulf Coast, proposing legislation to address social problems they say the Republican-led Congress is overlooking.

All 42 U.S. House members of the Congressional Black Caucus have signed on to the measure, which includes a long list of health, housing and education provisions. It also would guarantee victims a monetary grant similar to the ones doled out for victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The caucus' chairman, Rep. Mel Watt, D-N.C., said he didn't have a cost estimate because it was unclear how many Gulf Coast residents have been forced to move. He floated $200 billion as a ballpark figure for the overall recovery.

"One of the things we're worried about is that our government, perhaps, would just as soon forget about those people and let them go where they are and fend for themselves," Watt said. "That is inconsistent with what we said as a nation we would do for the victims of this hurricane."

[psychopomp]

1. Rep. Watt is right

We should not forget about the people who lost it all and now are struggling to put their lives back together. I would like to hear more about what our government can do to assist in helping the people of that devistated region.