Texas Joins in Recovery-Funding Complaint

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One state's funding windfall is another's frustration in the Gulf Coast, where the Bush administration is distributing billions of dollars in grants to rebuild hurricane-ravaged housing - money that falls short of what Louisiana sought. Among the unhappy states is Texas, whose Republican governor joined a chorus of the state's lawmakers in complaining Thursday that it was being shortchanged by the $74 million it will receive.

``Thousands of Texas families and senior citizens whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged in Hurricane Rita will lack the funds to rebuild their homes as a result of this decision,'' Gov. Rick Perry said in a statement. But in Mississippi, lawmakers are pleased with $5 billion that can help up to an estimated 50,000 households walloped by storm-related flooding last year. At issue is previously announced $11.5 billion in community grants that the Bush administration said Wednesday would be divided among five states. In doing so, the White House rejected a $30 billion redevelopment plan for Louisiana that state officials considered the cornerstone of their hopes for rebuilding.

``My dad used to tell me, 'Cheer up, things could be worse,''' said Rep. Richard Baker, R-La., the architect of the $30 billion plan to jump-start his state. ``So I cheered up and things got worse.'' By rejecting his plan, Baker said the White House ``is basically saying to Louisiana, 'If you want to rebuild, you have to find resources of your own.'''
The White House action ``demonstrates a continued lack of understanding for the magnitude of the devastation and the immense rebuilding task our state faces,'' said Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La.

Louisiana would get $6.2 billion, the bulk of the $11.5 billion. But that still falls short of what state officials said was necessary to help an estimated 200,000 homeowners return and rebuild their communities. The grants also divided Gulf Coast lawmakers who have been working together to win more assistance. In Mississippi, lawmakers hailed the grants. ``It's huge,'' said Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., who has worked closely with Louisiana lawmakers over the last four months to ensure that Congress continues sending assistance to the region. Under the grant program, Florida is eligible for $83 million, Alabama $75 million and Texas $74 million. Federal Gulf Coast redevelopment officer Donald Powell said the money is intended for uninsured homeowners who lived outside flood plains but saw their property destroyed by the triple-whammy of hurricanes that began with Katrina on Aug. 29, followed by Rita on Sept. 24 and Wilma on Oct. 24.

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