Mississippi Plans to Spend Katrina Housing Funds on Port Expansion

[babylonsister]

Mississippi plans Katrina grant diversion
State wants $600 million from housing program for huge port expansion

By Mike Stuckey
Senior news editor


While thousands of Mississippians who lost their homes to Hurricane Katrina remain in FEMA trailers, the state intends to spend $600 million in federal grants originally earmarked for housing on a major expansion of the state-owned port — a project that could eventually include casino and resort facilities.

Despite strong objections from housing activists and the threat of hearings from two powerful congressional Democrats, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is expected to approve the diversion of the funds on Friday. A HUD spokesman says the agency has little discretion at this point to block the switch.

Opponents of the move see it as a prime example of Mississippi’s Republican lobbyist-turned-governor, Haley Barbour, favoring rich and powerful interests over the region’s less fortunate.

“It’s just insanity, true insanity,” said Sister Martha Milner, a Catholic nun and board member of the Steps Coalition, the loudest voice on the Gulf Coast against the diversion of the funds.

more...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22805282/

[deminks]

1. A lot of talk about Barbour being our next Cheney.

Looks like he could make the grade to continue the Bushco War on the Poor.

(snip)

Mississippi, with the highest poverty rate of any state by several measures, already had won HUD waivers of rules that require the funds to benefit low- and moderate-income residents. Critics see the waivers as a product of the unparalleled influence with the Bush administration enjoyed by Barbour, a former Reagan White House political director, Republican National Committee chairman and legendary fixer who continues to receive checks from the Washington lobbying shop that still bears his name.

[Coexist]

2. what is with everyone pushing to build casinos everywhere?

it is epidemic.

[babylonsister]

3. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ nt.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. We should all file a class action lawsuit (all US taxpayers) against both HUD and the state of

Mississippi!