[FoCHAT] Urgent: Monday is the last day for the legisl. to pass the one RH bill that is still alive: SB 755-- contact Senators and spread the word

[Melanie Ehrlich]

Dear Concerned Citizen of Louisiana,
  
   
  TWO ROAD HOME REDRESS BILLS KILLED BUT ONE REMAINS ALIVE: 
   
  SB 755 Would Give Applicants Highest Valuation & Access to Courts
   
    

  Bottom line first: it is urgent for you to contact as many senators as possible and to spread the word in any other way you can this weekend about the need for the Senate to accept the amendments to SB 755 on this Monday, the last day of this legislative session. 
   
  This bill will give the right to highest pre-storm valuation to ALL applicants and the right to access to court. The Gov., LRA, and OCD are, again, wildly exagerrating the cost to the State when the bill itself says that it will only involve Road Home government funds, which have to be spent on Road Home applicants.
   
  Please email all Senators right away and ask them to support this bill on Monday, the last chance for legislation to stop ICF, with the aid of the LRA and the Governor, from taking advantage of federal funds for the Road Home Program in ways that are hurting and unfair to thousands of applicants.
   
   
    adleyr at legis.state.la.us; amedeej at legis.state.la.us; websen at legis.state.la.us; barhamr at legis.state.la.us; boassow at legis.state.la.us; lasen15 at legis.state.la.us; cainj at legis.state.la.us; websen at legis.state.la.us; smithcheek at legis.state.la.us;
  duplessisa at legis.state.la.us; lasen20 at legis.state.la.us; ellingtn at legis.state.la.us;
  fieldsc at legis.state.la.us; fontenoc at legis.state.la.us; lasen21 at legis.state.la.us;
  gautreauxn at legis.state.la.us; heitmeierf at legis.state.la.us; hinesd at legis.state.la.us;
  hollisk at legis.state.la.us; jacksonl at legis.state.la.us; websen at legis.state.la.us; kostelka at legis.state.la.us; lentini at legis.state.la.us; malonem at legis.state.la.us; lasen17 at legis.state.la.us; lasen29 at legis.state.la.us; lasen23 at legis.state.la.us; lasen27 at legis.state.la.us; murraye at legis.state.la.us; websen at legis.state.la.us; quinnj at legis.state.la.us; romeroc at legis.state.la.us; schedlet at legis.state.la.us; websen at legis.state.la.us; smithmi at legis.state.la.us; theunisg at legis.state.la.us; websen at legis.state.la.us; 
   
   
  For Phone Information for the Senators:

     go to the legislative website          www.legis.state.la.us
   
   Scroll down to the bottom of the page to the section to:
          Your Louisiana Legislators
       
   
           Who are your state Senators and Representatives? Find Out! 
       How do I contact my state Senators and Representatives? Here's How!    
   
   and click on the link “Who are your state Senators and Representatives? Find Out!” 
   
   
   More Explanation

   
  Two bills (SB 740 and SB 636) to provide relief to thousands of desperate and badly treated Road Home applicants have died because of vehement, misleading opposition by LRA, but one more, SB 755, remains. SB 755 was passed by the House yesterday. The vote was 82 Y and 11 N. 
   
   
  For CHAT--SB 636 lost by 11 votes in the House with wrong information provided mistakenly stating that it would cost the State money even though an amendment explicitly stated that only RH funds would be used. The no votes were largely from N. LA. 
   
  The same misinformation is being vigorously sent by Gov. Jindal, LRA, and OCD about SB 755. 
   
  On May 21, SB 755 passed the Senate unanimously. IOn Friday, it passed the House with extremely important amendments added to it. Monday is the last chance for this bill to have final passage and all that is needed is Senate concurrence. 
   
  SB 755 provides that the highest pre-storm valuation in an applicant's file be used for grant determination and, in an amendment added yesterday, that applicants should have access to courts for contesting Road Home mistakes. Applicants' closing documents state that they cannot go to court. 
   
  This is a critical issue to redress thousands of arbitrary and capricious decisions for grant determination. 
   
  Access to the courts is essential to stop the immunity that ICF has wrapped itself in with the Executive's help to avoid accountability for its huge numbers of mistakes, some of which are clearly intentional.
   
   Melanie Ehrlich
  Co-Chairman, Citizens' Road Home Action Team (CHAT)
  Member, LRA Housing Task Force 
  
 
  Text for SB 755  Highest appraisal must be used for grants
   
  http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=488915
   
   
  Fiscal note for SB755
   
  http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=501647
   
  Access to courts amendment to SB755: http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=501550
   
   
  The cosponsor of this bill is the former top aide for Road Home matters to ex-Gov. Blanco:
    
Sam Jones
State Representative Dist 50
St. Mary, St. Martin, Iberia
2008-2012
Office of Governor Kathleen Blanco (2004-2008)
Mayor of Franklin (ret) (1982-2004)

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