[Mb-civic] Katrina's Cost May Test GOP Harmony - Washington Post

[William Swiggard]

Katrina's Cost May Test GOP Harmony
Some Want Bush To Give Details on How U.S. Will Pay

By Shailagh Murray and Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, September 21, 2005; Page A01

Congressional Republicans from across the ideological spectrum yesterday 
rejected the White House's open-wallet approach to rebuilding the Gulf 
Coast, a sign that the lockstep GOP discipline that George W. Bush has 
enjoyed for most of his presidency is eroding on Capitol Hill.

Trying to allay mounting concerns, White House budget director Joshua B. 
Bolten met with Republican senators for an hour after their regular 
Tuesday lunch. Senators emerged to say they were annoyed by the lack of 
concrete ideas for paying the Hurricane Katrina bill.
"Very entertaining," Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said sarcastically as he 
left the session. "I haven't heard any specifics from the administration."

"At least give us some idea" of how to cover the cost, said Sen. Conrad 
Burns (R-Mont.), who is facing reelection in 2006. "We owe that to the 
American taxpayer."

The pushback on Katrina aid, which the White House is also confronting 
among House Republicans, represents the loudest and most widespread 
dissent Bush has faced from his own party since it took full control of 
Congress in 2002. As polls show the president's approval numbers 
falling, there is growing concern among lawmakers that GOP margins in 
Congress could shrink next year, and even rank-and-file Republicans are 
complaining that Bush is shirking the difficult budget decisions that 
must accompany the rebuilding bonanza.

Rep. Tom Feeney (R-Fla.) said he and other fiscal conservatives are 
feeling "genuine concern [which] could easily turn into frustration and 
anger."

Congressional Republicans are not arguing with Bush's pledge that the 
federal government will lead the Louisiana and Mississippi recovery. But 
they are insisting that the massive cost -- as much as $200 billion -- 
be paid for. Conservatives are calling for spending cuts to existing 
programs, a few GOP moderates are entertaining the possibility of a tax 
increase, and many in the middle want to freeze Bush tax cuts that have 
yet to take effect.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/20/AR2005092001704.html?nav=hcmodule
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.islandlists.com/pipermail/mb-civic/attachments/20050921/c416e4af/attachment.htm