[FoCHAT] CHAT: Some Big Surprises On Where Our Politician's Stand
on Louisiana's Recovery As Per Their Websites-- 9/1/07
Melanie Ehrlich
mehrlich8 at yahoo.com
Sat Sep 1 20:53:59 PDT 2007
Dear Supporter of Louisiana's Future,
Citizens’ Road Home Action Team (CHAT) believes in the public’s right to know about the largest federally funded program for reconstruction of devastated parts of Louisiana. This program, the Road Home Program for Homeowners, is critical to the rebuilding our state and the economy of the entire state. That is why we formed and why we informed the public about the shortfall on Garland Robinette’s show on April 27 and WWL 4 TV with Lee Zurick on April 28.
We are posting the following at our website: http://chat.thinknola.com
We ask our Louisiana Congressional delegation to publicly and unconditionally commit to advocating and working for passage of the following:
1. Legislation to remove the shortfall with fully adequate, not scrimpy, funding.
2. Legislation to make the $1.2 billion appropriated as FEMA money for the Road Home Program for mitigation and house-elevation allowances available to the Road Home Program with reasonable regulations, not absurd requirements for cost-benefit analyses and environmental reviews. This release of the FEMA money to the Road Home Program is provided in the pending Senate bill S.1668, Gulf Coast Housing Recovery Act of 2007. This bill includes the following. It requires the Administrator of FEMA to allow specified uses by Louisiana of certain funds under the Road Home Program. Requires state reports, made public on the Internet, on the Road Home Program. Authorizes additional funds for the Road Home Program. Cosponsors [as of 2007-08-26], by Sen. Barbara Boxer [D-CA], Sen. Sherrod Brown [D-OH], Sen. Richard Durbin [D-IL], Sen. John Kerry [D-MA], Sen. Mary Landrieu [D-LA], and Sen. Barack Obama [D-IL].
For about 1 minute of your time, the following link will allow you to sign a petition in support of this legislation for authorization of Congress to cover the shortfall and release of the house-elevation money to the Road Home Program.
http://pol.moveon.org/katrina07/petition/?r_by=11154-6709358-ma_NeE&rc=paste
3. "Legislation to exempt the Road Home Awards from Federal Tax Penalties: Louisiana asks Congress to exempt homeowners who claimed a casualty loss deduction on their 2005 federal income tax return from having to pay this money back to the IRS upon receipt of the Road Home grant. Homeowners who received a casualty loss deduction and decide to rebuild are penalized by having to repay the IRS, while homeowners who received the deduction and decide to sell their property and move away are not penalized. Louisiana urges Congress to exempt tax penalties from the Road Home awards (S.29/H.R.641)." These are quotes from Gov. Blanco’s press release of Feb. 9, 2007 http://www.gov.state.la.us/index.cfm?md=newsroom&tmp=detail&articleID=2588.
4. "Clarify SBA Loan Treatment Relating to Road Home Grants: Congress needs to instruct the SBA on the difference between a loan and a grant. A federal requirement exists that Road Home Grants be utilized to repay SBA Loans. Our homeowners need capital to rebuild their homes. Forcing them to repay loans with grant proceeds does not give them capital, it forces them to go elsewhere. Louisiana asks Congress to provide a full fix to this problem as homeowners struggle to return home." These are quotes from Gov. Blanco’s press release of Feb. 9, 2007, http://www.gov.state.la.us/index.cfm?md=newsroom&tmp=detail&articleID=2588.
Where Do Our LA Congressmen and Senators Stand on These Issues?
The following list that came from the websites of Louisiana's Congressional delegation, which is their own words, not filtered through the media.
Please contact CHAT at chatlra at yahoo.com for additions and updates to these list from our delegations' websites.
U.S. Senate David Vitter Statements about Road Home Program at his website-None
516 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202.224.4623
Fax: 202.228.5061
Web:http://vitter.senate.gov
Mary Landrieu At her website, support for Road Home Program:
1. http://landrieu.senate.gov/~landrieu/releases/07/2007801B42.html
08/01/2007: Homeland Security Committee Passes Landrieu Bill to Move HMGP Money to Road Home. The Homeland Security Committee also voted for an amendment to the bill sponsored by Sens. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., and Landrieu that gives FEMA the authority to waive additional HMGP program requirements at Louisiana's request, adding flexibility to HMGP money. The amendment also authorizes FEMA to give homeowners mitigation money up front.
2. http://landrieu.senate.gov/~landrieu/releases/07/2007524E52.html 05/24/07 Landrieu Puts Spotlight on Road Home Problems Chairs Disaster Recovery hearing on shortfall and slow delivery of checks to homeowners. WASHINGTON -- United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today pressed the Louisiana architects of the "Road Home" program and Bush administration representatives on the housing program's projected shortfall and the tens of thousands of homeowners who have not received their checks. Sen. Landrieu received their answers at an oversight hearing of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Disaster Recovery Subcommittee, which she chairs.
3. http://landrieu.senate.gov/~landrieu/releases/07/2007524F18.html 05/24/2007 Landrieu Secures Local Match Waiver in Hurricane Recovery Bill, Now Headed for President's Signature; Landrieu provisions make disaster loans forgivable, fund levees and fund review of Louisiana flood control pumps. WASHINGTON -- The United States Senate today passed the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill by a vote of 80 to 14. The bill includes a provision authored by Sen. Landrieu that would waive the ten percent local match requirement for hurricane recovery projects. The bill now goes to the White House, where the President today signaled his intention to sign the legislation into law despite vetoing a previous version.
{This money has helped to fund part of the Louisiana state contribution to the Road Home shortfall.}
724 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202.224.5824
Fax: 202.224.9735
Web: http://landrieu.senate.gov
U.S. House of Representatives Bobby Jindal - District 1 Statements about Road Home Program at his website-None
1205 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202.225.3015
Web: http://www.house.gov/jindal
William Jefferson - District 2 Statements about Road Home Program at his website-None
240 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202.225.6636
Fax: 202.225.1988
Web: http://www.house.gov/jefferson
Charlie Melancon - District 3 Statements about Road Home Program at his website-None
404 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202.225.4031
Fax: 202.226.3944
Web: http://www.house.gov/melancon
Jim McCrery- District 4 Statements about Road Home Program at his website-None
2104 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202.225.2777
Fax: 202.225.8039
Web: http://www.house.gov/mccrery
Rodney Alexander - District 5 Statements about Road Home Program at his website-None
316 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202.225.8490
Fax: 202.225.5639
Web: http://www.house.gov/alexander
Richard Baker - District 6 Statements about Road Home Program at his website-None
434 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202.225.3901
Fax: 202.225.7313
Web: http://www.house.gov/baker
Dr. Charles Boustany, Jr. - District 7 Statements about Road Home Program at his website-None
1117 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-1807
Phone: 202.225.2031
Web: http://www.house.gov/boustany
Gov. Kathleen Blanco's website: Statement about the Road Home Program shortfall
http://www.gov.state.la.us/
http://www.gov.state.la.us/index.cfm?md=newsroom&tmp=detail&articleID=3171
1. Aug. 31, 3007. "The federal government suggests it has allocated more than $114 billion to the Gulf Coast recovery - but they often fail to mention this $114 billion was distributed among five states - Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Florida - in the aftermath of three disasters, including Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Of this, it is estimated that federal commitments to Louisiana are roughly $60 billion. A substantial portion of this assistance was directed to emergency assistance and meeting short-term needs arising from the hurricanes, such as relocation assistance, emergency housing, immediate levee repair, and debris removal efforts, leaving less than $26 billion for actual 'bricks and sticks' rebuilding of permanent infrastructure. Of this, we have forced enough federally-required paperwork through the eye of the needle to get nearly $7 billion spent on permanent construction projects, including more than $3 billion that has been paid directly
to Louisiana homeowners.
"To characterize our ongoing recovery challenges as 'runaway government spending' is an insult to Americans in need. Let me remind him and others in Congress that Louisiana has contributed nearly $5 billion of our own resources toward this historic recovery effort. We have painstaking accountability measures in place to ensure every dollar is appropriately spent on recovery. We have undergone numerous audits, and we stand tall in the way Louisiana has honestly disbursed its federal dollars. I share Rep. Tancredo's concern for transparency and accountability, and I urge him to stand with us as we face this long-term recovery, just as we would stand with Colorado should residents there suffer a major disaster. Join us in demanding more efficient use of recovery aid by reforming the Stafford Act, cutting the reams of red tape that are hampering our progress."
http://www.gov.state.la.us/index.cfm?md=newsroom&tmp=detail&articleID=3168
2. Aug. 29, 2007. First, I asked the President to support full-funding for the Road Home Program. Louisiana has more homeowners with more damage covered by less insurance than FEMA estimates, resulting in a shortfall. Louisiana committed $1 billion in state resources towards this gap, now we need a federal commitment to close the remaining balance.
If the President would free up the $1.2 billion dollars of promised Hazard Mitigation funds from red tape, this would go a long way towards filling the gap. Smart rebuilding requires homeowners to access this funding to strengthen their homes against future storms. Congressional leaders have pledged their support, now we need support from the White House, too.
Plus At Gov. Blanco’s website
3. 06.02.07 Governor Blanco to use state funds to address Road Home projected shortfall; pledges $600 - 700 million in state support
4. 06.25.07 Governor Blanco identifies funding solutions for the Road Home, LSU-VA Hospital
5. 05.17.07 Governor Blanco reminds Delegation of $4.6 billion in state funds used for hurricane recovery as potential Road Home shortfall is addressed
6. 06.15.07 Letter of support from Governor and Treasurer of Oregon
7. 06.19.07 Governor Blanco's public schedule for June 19
8. 06.20.07 Governor Blanco's public schedule for June 20
9. 06.19.07 Governor Blanco's e-postcard from Washington 6.19.07
10. 06.20.07 Governor Blanco's e-Postcard from Washington 6.20.07
11. 06.22.07 BLANCO TRACK: Session Update for June 22, 2007; Today's progress on Governor Blanco's agenda to strengthen Louisiana's future
12. 06.25.07 Rising to the Challenge of our Reality
13. 06.27.07 BLANCO TRACK: Session Update for Wednesday, June 27, 2007;Today's progress on Governor Blanco's agenda to Strengthen Louisiana's Future
CHAT has been informed that Gov. Blanco’s office briefed the LA congressional delegation last week on the RHP and told them that she does not have a firm number for the shortfall and may not until Oct. In turn, a staff member of the LA delegation told us that legislation to actually cover the shortfall (as opposed to Senate Bill S. 1668, which just authorizes funding in the future) cannot be proposed until there is a firm number.
On the other hand, a top LRA official told us that they have not been told by anyone that Congress needs a final number to move legislation. He anticipates working with Congressional
leaders to incorporate Road Home funding in the next emergency supplemental bill for the Iraq War, which is expected this fall.
In the meantime, the homeowners wait, wonder, and are confused. The least that all elected officials and those who aspire to lead us in Louisiana can do is to publicly and loudly insist upon full, not scrimpy, funding of the Road Home Program by Congress.
If you have not joined us, please do at http://chatushome.com for just occasional updates on funding of the Road Home Program and http://chat.thinknola.com for more substantive information from leaders of CHAT.
Thanks and best wishes for a good Labor Day weekend,
Melanie Ehrlich
Co-Chairman, Citizens' Road Home Action team
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