[StBernard] State Democratic Party Response

[Westley Annis]

Statement by Chairman Whittington on Republican Efforts to Obstruct Federal
Funding for Housing Aid   
Friday, February 17, 2006 
  
BATON ROUGE - Louisiana Democratic Party Chairman Chris Whittington released
the following statement on Republican efforts to obstruct federal funding
for housing aid:

"Yesterday's House vote demonstrates the depths of callousness of
Republicans in the Louisiana Legislature. Hundreds of thousands of Louisiana
citizens -- desperate for federal and state housing assistance to rebuild,
repair or relocate - got a kick in the stomach yesterday from the House
Republican caucus, which voted almost unanimously to shoot down SB 49, the
vehicle for receiving billions in federal housing aid for Louisiana
citizens.

"Even a personal plea from Don Powell, President Bush's point man for
hurricane relief efforts, did not persuade the Republican caucus to act on
behalf of Louisiana's citizens. These Republicans gave Mr. Powell a standing
ovation, but sat on their hands when it came to helping our citizens. This
is blatant partisan politics that threatens to deny our citizens the help
they need.

"Mr. Powell told the House that unless a unified Louisiana Legislature
creates a "vehicle" to receive more than $10 billion in Community
Development Block Grant funds, Congress might reject a substantial portion
of that money. Such action could cripple Louisiana's efforts to recover and
would leave tens of thousands of Louisiana citizens without permanent
housing.

"Governor Blanco has proposed SB 49 to create the Louisiana Housing and Land
Trust Corporation. This bill is patterned after Congressman Richard Baker's
federal bill and would create the very "vehicle" that Mr. Powell wants for
the federal CDBG funds.

"However, only moments after Mr. Powell's speech to the House, Republicans
rejected an attempt to suspend the rules and hear the bill. Of the 34 votes
against hearing the bill, 30 of them were Republicans. Only two Republicans
voted to consider the legislation.

"If this bill fails and Congress refuses to appropriate the housing money
our citizens need so desperately, the blame will rest squarely on the backs
of the Republicans who shot it down."


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