War bill helps Iraqis, may ignore Katrina victims

[Barrett808]

War bill helps Iraqis, may ignore Katrina victims
By JOHN MORENO GONZALES, Associated Press Writer

NEW ORLEANS - A long way from Iraq and the war debate in Washington, Herman Moore sat outside a tent in a downtown New Orleans homeless camp, trying to make sense of a proposal that helps Iraqi war refugees but will likely exclude Hurricane Katrina victims.

"Messed up is not the phrase. I think you know the phrase," Moore said. "This place has been forgotten, just forgotten."

The 56-year-old lifelong city resident is referring to Congress' plan to spend $212 billion to finance the war in Iraq. In the massive spending bill, $350 million is set aside to help Iraqi refugees while just $73 million has been allotted to help shelter physically and mentally disabled Katrina victims — and that money could be cut as early as Tuesday.

Along with funding the war through the first month of the next president's term, the bill provides Jordan's military $100 million and Mexico's armed forces $50 million. In response, lawmakers like Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu have attached over $30 billion to the proposal for what they see as domestic priorities.

However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi must trim the bill or face a threatened veto from President Bush. While the California Democrat supports the housing money for 3,000 rent-aid vouchers, it is part of $2.9 billion in Katrina assistance that may end up being cut.

Landrieu said the housing assistance funds are vital to a city that has seen its homeless population double to an estimated 12,000 since the 2005 disaster.

"I fully support giving our troops the funding they need and am concerned about the plight of Iraqi refugees," the Democrat wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "But we cannot neglect the most pressing emergency here at home along the Gulf Coast."

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080608/ap_on_re_us/iraq_katrina

[indepat]

1. Senator Landrieu is living in la-la land if she thinks this administration can't indeed neglect the

most pressing emergency here at home. :D

[MadMaddie]

2. Screw * and his veto....Pelosi should not change a thing

she is missing an opportunity to show that * doesn't give a shit about NO and Mississippi.

Nancy and team need to start using some more strategy....take * down another 10 points and make him even more irrelevant.