Proposals to Revise FEMA May Be in Jeopardy on Capitol Hill

[maddezmom]

By Spencer S. Hsu
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 6, 2006; Page A07

Congressional proposals to retool the Federal Emergency Management Agency after last year's disastrous hurricane season appear to be in trouble, with Republicans scrambling to strike a compromise before November's elections.

Members remain divided over how much to spend; how big to rebuild the disaster response agency after five years of disintegration; and how broadly to change laws covering aid to individuals, governments and private groups, congressional aides said.

Both political parties expect homeland security to be an important issue in this fall's elections. Desiring to avoid a divisive floor fight and to fast-track FEMA changes through a jampacked legislative calendar, Republican leaders are pushing to jettison the controversial parts and tack the rest onto a pending, must-pass $33 billion homeland security spending bill.

Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on homeland security, said he has told House and Senate FEMA negotiators from both parties that if they can strike a deal, "we will be happy to carry it. . . . If we get to that point, I would try to fund it consistent with what they propose, if I agree with it. . . . There is not a lot of money."

more:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/05/AR2006090501199.html

[rodeodance]

1. "There is not a lot of money."--propably sums it up well (all $ to war)

[rodeodance]

2. they want to "jettison the controversial parts"-- in other words, not deal

with it. Do nothing Congress ring a bell?

[HereSince1628]

3. They want to tag the controversial stuff onto must pass legislation

they are jettisoning nothing.