WWL-TV Editorial: Recovery held hostage

The following is a WWL-TV Editorial:

Should billions of federal dollars for hurricane recovery be dependent on Iraq War policy decisions? The answer is no. But in the ways of Congress, the two are being unconscionably linked.

Lawmakers who want the war in Iraq to end in September 2008 are essentially offering bribes to lawmakers opposed to setting a timetable.

The bill to fund the war in Iraq and set a deadline for withdrawal has been loaded with billions of dollars for other projects....including 2.9 billion to fund hurricane recovery on the Gulf Coast and New Orleans levee repairs.

There is also money for drought relief in the West and peanut storage in Georgia.

This type of bargaining is business as usual for Congress...it doesn't matter which party is in control. But this should change. If the war in Iraq is the issue, vote on that. Do not hold the critical recovery of our area hostage to a foreign policy debate. That is heinous.

------------------

If you would like to respond to this editorial, please write to us at:
WWL-TV
1024 North Rampart Street
New Orleans, LA 70116