Texas Congressman Jeb Hensarling has offered an amendment requiring Katrina victims to actually--gasp!--seek employment to get financial aid for housing.
The bill requires those seeking money to perform 20 hours a week of "work activities." The Think Progress piece naturally doesn't explain what "work activities" are. But given that we've already spent more than $122 billion on Katrina aid, it doesn't seem so outrageous to tell people they have to start finding jobs to get more taxpayer money.
Naturally, Democrats--who think all money is theirs to spend--are furious. Says David Scott of Georgia:
This amendment is cruel, it is cold, it is calculating, and it is pandering to the schizophrenic dichotomy that has plagued this nation since they first brought Africans on these shores from Africa. And that is the issue of race and poverty. Let me tell you something, gentleman. Where were you, where was your amendment when the Twin Towers were hit and the people in New york suffered that catastrophe? There was no cry before we gave them help. "They got to go get a job." everybody was there and poured in help, as they should, the American way. Where was your amendment down in Florida when the hurricanes hit down there? Nobody said, "Make ‘em work before we help them."
Ahh, yes. We have to constantly bring up slavery in any situation involving black people because the guilt should make everybody happy to pour millions more into New Orleans. Will there ever be a time when playing the race card is inappropriate for these people? Comparing the money spent for the families of 9/11 victims to the Katrina victims is unfair and silly, not to mention insulting. But don't expect anything approaching logic to bother Democrats in their zeal to spend your money where they think it's important.
BTW, heard any news from Iraq lately?
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