AR-091505-NCRP

AR-091505-NCRP: " Congress’ Katrina Disaster Relief Bill:
A Misplaced Emphasis on Charity Rather Than the Core Issue—Disinvestment in Government Programs, Capacity, and Commitment

By Rick Cohen

No one wants to be pigeon-holed as a charitable scold, especially when the charitable incentives to be criticized are wrapped in the cloak of response to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, arguably the nation’s worst natural disaster.

Consequently, there’s no great advantage to be gained in nitpicking the proposed tax relief package announced by Senators Grassley and Baucus on behalf of the Senate Finance Committee, described as tax relief “for individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina”. But there are provisions that, with the hindsight of 9/11 and the current firestorm over the embarrassing FEMA and related governmental agencies actions pre- and post Katrina, there are some broad issues worthy of comment and concern."