Mailbox: Katrina Eleven
J. S.
Issue date: 10/24/05 Section: Editorials
Eleven members of the US House of Representatives voted against offering $51 billion in aid to Katrina victims. All 11 members were Republican.
The general consensus at the moment seems to suggest that the Katrina 11 were worried about accountability. They seem to be worried that the $51 billion will be spent incorrectly or foolishly or both.
Generally speaking, insisting that Congress spend money wisely is a good idea. The Katrina 11, however, seem to lack a certain amount of consistency when it comes to fiscal responsibility. 9 members of the Katrina 11 voted for the transportation bill recently passed by Congress. This bill had more pork than a Jimmy Dean farm. 9 members of the Katrina 11 also voted for the energy bill recently passed by Congress. This bill took pity on energy companies struggling under record profits by offering corporate welfare to companies hardest hit by piles of uncounted money. So what do the Katrina 11 want to teach us about Congressional spending? They want to stress the importance of oversight. The Katrina 11 want to teach us that wasting money on a Bridge to Nowhere is an acceptable waste of taxpayer money as long as Congress makes doubly sure that ALL, not just some, of the money gets wasted. The Katrina 11 also want to teach us that "free money" is better spent on corporate welfare rather than victim assistance. Shouldn't America help those that help themselves? The Katrina 11 seem to suggest that energy companies deserve help because these companies helped themselves to record profits. Katrina victims, on the other hand, will benefit greatly from digging themselves out of this disaster. Who knows, maybe those energy companies will donate (and deduct from their taxes) a few shovels to Katrina victims.
A final note on the Katrina 11 : One member, Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz), voted against all three Congressional bills. We can argue his political philosophy but we should congratulate him for remaining consistent.
The general consensus at the moment seems to suggest that the Katrina 11 were worried about accountability. They seem to be worried that the $51 billion will be spent incorrectly or foolishly or both.
Generally speaking, insisting that Congress spend money wisely is a good idea. The Katrina 11, however, seem to lack a certain amount of consistency when it comes to fiscal responsibility. 9 members of the Katrina 11 voted for the transportation bill recently passed by Congress. This bill had more pork than a Jimmy Dean farm. 9 members of the Katrina 11 also voted for the energy bill recently passed by Congress. This bill took pity on energy companies struggling under record profits by offering corporate welfare to companies hardest hit by piles of uncounted money. So what do the Katrina 11 want to teach us about Congressional spending? They want to stress the importance of oversight. The Katrina 11 want to teach us that wasting money on a Bridge to Nowhere is an acceptable waste of taxpayer money as long as Congress makes doubly sure that ALL, not just some, of the money gets wasted. The Katrina 11 also want to teach us that "free money" is better spent on corporate welfare rather than victim assistance. Shouldn't America help those that help themselves? The Katrina 11 seem to suggest that energy companies deserve help because these companies helped themselves to record profits. Katrina victims, on the other hand, will benefit greatly from digging themselves out of this disaster. Who knows, maybe those energy companies will donate (and deduct from their taxes) a few shovels to Katrina victims.
A final note on the Katrina 11 : One member, Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz), voted against all three Congressional bills. We can argue his political philosophy but we should congratulate him for remaining consistent.