Sunday, September 18, 2005

Roy Blunt on Katrina

As a follow up to the post below regarding Dubya's efforts to destroy "rebuild" following Katrina, here's what Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt says:

I am committed to making sure that those affected by this tragedy will have the full support of the Federal government to get the resources they need. It is critical that we respond in a rational organized manner in order to best help those who are suffering.


That includes pushing through more tax cuts for the rich:
The ultimate Republican response to Hurricane Katrina came from House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo. He said Congress should consider tax cuts as a party "stimulus package" in response to Katrina.

It also includes increasing pollution and protecting oil company profits:
House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) today announced the formation of the Gas Price Task force, comprised of Members of Congress and dedicated to immediate action to ease the widespread fuel supply crisis occurring throughout much of the nation.

The task force’s first action was a letter to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) commending their prompt actions to provide short-term motor fuel specification waivers and advocating for approval of pending fuel waiver requests, designed to temporarily reduce the number of boutique fuels required throughout the country. These boutique fuels cause the price of gasoline to spike during emergencies, such as Hurricane Katrina, which take refineries that produce the special blends off-line.

“While there is some good news coming out of the Gulf Coast regarding the restoration of crude production, refining capacity, and pipeline transportation, we are concerned that gasoline and diesel fuel inventories have not had the chance to recover enough to allow for the expiration of current waivers or to stop considering additional measures to bring more motor fuel supplies to the market,” wrote Blunt, a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and the members of the Task Force.

The Gas Price Task Force, comprised of Blunt and Representatives Vito Fossella (N.Y.), Steve Pearce (NM), Darrell Issa (Calif.), Robin Hayes (hN.C.), Paul Ryan (Wisc.), Jerry Moran (KS), Jack Kingston (GA) and Eric Cantor (Va.), plans to work together on solutions on pricing, supply, and regulatory issues.

“In the wake of the Katrina Disaster, the information drawn from this Task Force will help our members to explain what is happening with gas prices to their constituents while finding reasonable solutions to rising prices, which will help Americans and their families now and in the future,” added Blunt.

I especially like that last part--the information will help explain what is happening with gas prices while finding reasonable solutions. Like lowering emission standards for "boutique fuels required throughout the country." California can certainly handle more pollution.

Note also that the task force is made up of Republicans. Evidently Democrats couldn't possibly come up with reasonable solutions to rising gas prices.

And Roy Blunt wants to make sure only Republican-approved corporations profit from Katrina.
Roy Blunt also said Friday that Gulf States residents who opted out of property insurance must shoulder responsibility for the $200 billion cleanup.

"Frankly, we don't want to send the message here that people who don't have insurance come out of this as well as the people who do have insurance," he said. "We can't teach the wrong lessons here."

Roy Blunt. Compassionate Corporate Lackey.

Missouri can do better than Roy Blunt.