Eyes Left

"Eleven Representatives Oppose $ For Katrina Victims"

The United States Senate and United States House have passed further supplemental appropriations in response to the Katrina disaster.  The Senate's vote was unanimous.  Measures like this deserve unanimous support in both Houses of Congress, but unanimity was not forthcoming.  The House voted 410-11 to approve the Katrina supplemental appropriations legislation - a thumping endorsement - and yet, eleven Representatives dissented.  My curiousity was raised:   Which Representatives rejected the "I am my brother's keeper" ethic?

All eleven opponents were conservative Republicans.  The list contains some notable names - Rep. Ron Paul (Texas) is a noted libertarian, and was the Libertarian Party presidential nominee in 1988.  James Sensenbrenner (Wisconsin) is Chair of the House Judiciary Committee.  Rep. Tom Tancredo (Colorado) is a vociferous critic of illegal immigration who seems to often cater to anti-Hispanic prejudice.  Tancredo supports most National Rifle Association positions, but his district contains Columbine High School, the site of a tragic massacre that killed fourteen persons.  Rep. Joe Barton (Texas) was the primary sponsor of comprehensive industry-friendly "energy policy legislation" that has been signed into law by President Bush.  Jeffrey Flake (Arizona) is a principled rightwing libertarian on fiscal and government spending issues, but has consistently urged a more flexible policy regarding USA trade with Cuba.  Most of the remaining list is obscure - Rep. Steve King, an ultraconservative backbencher from Sioux City, Iowa...Lynn Westmoreland, an ultraconservative Georgia freshman...John Hostettler, a fundamentalist-leaning engineere from America's Heartland (Evansville In)...Scott Garrett (New Jersey), a favorite of the "Club For Growth", a Political Action Committee financed by rightwing Wall Street millionaires...Virginia Foxx, a conservative first term Representative from Winston Salem NC....and Rep. Butch Otter (Idaho), a rightwinger who has expressed strong concerns about expansive enforcement of the USA Patriot Act. 

This vote was not the opponents' finest hour.  The vote should have been unanimous. 

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