Republicans block efforts to amend relief bill, hold vote without providin

[Waya]

In the wake of what the Wall Street Journal projected may be the most expensive natural disaster in American history, the Republican Leadership in the House of Representatives limited floor consideration of the $52 billion Katrina relief bill proposed by President Bush and voted to reject any Democratic efforts to amend the bill to include a wider array of relief measures, RAW STORY has learned.

Democrats said no one had even seen a copy of the legislation.

Voting along party lines, Republicans denied a measure that would have allowed for two hours of discussion and opened up the measure to be amended.

The Republican leadership pushed through a Suspension Rule in the House Rules Committee that blocked any members from offering amendments to the bill. Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY), the ranking Democrat on the Committee, led opposition to the rule.

The bill, which enjoys bipartisan support, is expected to pass on the House floor tomorrow.

Democrats implored Republicans to allow amendments, which would enable consideration of measures such as which areas and to which agencies relief dollars were most needed and how to restructure FEMA so that it would be more effective.


http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Republicans_block_efforts_to_amendment_relief_bill_vote_without_c_0907.html

[ThoughtCriminal]

1. You can bet there's plenty of GOP crony candy in there

What's left after they build Trent Lott's new house? Oh yeah, the porch.

[FreedomAngel82]

5. Oh of course

They won't sign it because they can't gain anything from it.

[cyberpj]

2. A few (very few) details on allocation of funds here:

CAN YOU SAY HALLIBURTON?
I KNEW YOU COULD.......

WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress' top two Democrats furiously criticized the administration's response to Hurricane Katrina on Wednesday, with Sen. Harry Reid demanding to know whether President Bush's Texas vacation impeded relief efforts and Rep. Nancy Pelosi assailing the chief executive as ``oblivious, in denial.''

With much of New Orleans still under water, the White House announced that Bush is asking lawmakers to approve another $51.8 billion to cover the costs of federal recovery efforts. Congressional officials said they expected to approve the next installment as early as Thursday, to keep the money flowing without interruption.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the new request, which is in addition to $10.5 billion already approved and was being sent to Capitol Hill later Wednesday, would not be the last.

``We are sparing no effort to help those that have been affected by Katrina and are in need of help,'' he said. ``There will be more that will be needed.''

Included in the request are $1.4 billion for the military and $400 million for the Army Corps of Engineers, which is working to plug breached levees that submerged most of New Orleans and to drain the city of the rank floodwaters, McClellan said. The rest would go to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

cont'd...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5262538,00.html

[ret5hd]

4. from the WH re: disaster relief (what counties are missing?)

is all the money only going to go to these areas?

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050827-1.html

<snip>
The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives, protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the parishes of Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Claiborne, Catahoula, Concordia, De Soto, East Baton Rouge, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Pointe Coupee, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Helena, St. Landry, Tensas, Union, Vernon, Webster, West Carroll, West Feliciana, and Winn.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.
</snip>

[geomon666]

3. How can they say the bill enjoys bipartisan support?

When no dem has read the damn thing and repubs won't allow a discussion on it?

[randr]

6. This partisan approach is exactly what the problem in all about!

[bonzotex]

7. classic...this should be news

God only knows what crap the repukes will stick in this bill and where they'll funnel the money. Keep an eye on this. The republican government just made another big pile of money to roll around in.

See how much goes to repuke donors versus people in need or legitimate clean-up/reconstruction.

Bastards.