Natural Disasters - An Expensive Business for the Federal Government

As a South Mississippi native, I am all too familiar with destruction and devastation from natural disasters. August 29, 2011, marks the six-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, one of the worst natural disasters ever to strike the United States. While working for Congressman Gene Taylor (MS-4), we assisted families on a daily basis who were struggling to recover from the storm.

Thousands of families who lost everything were forced to turn to the federal government for financial support and many times moral support as their insurance companies denied their claims. For years after the storm, the federal government provided much needed aid to these individuals, who had few alternatives. Since Katrina, the rising cost of homeowners insurance and lack of private insurance options points to a troubling trend - when private insurance is inadequate, property owners must turn to the federal government for assistance.

The six-year anniversary of Katrina comes in the wake of Hurricane Irene and a 5.9-magnitude earthquake, both hitting the East Coast in the same week. Earlier this year, there were deadly tornadoes that flattened towns in Missouri, Mississippi, Alabama and other states.

In the wake of these natural disasters, thousands of individuals are facing a costly uphill climb as they rebuild homes and businesses and work to resume normal lives. Unfortunately, private insurance companies cover only a fraction of the damage. The federal government will again open its wallet to provide aid and assistance. Some politicians in Washington are complaining that federal dollars are already scarce and the government can't continue to bail out disaster victims. It just costs too much. But others say there is nowhere else to turn.

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To Pass a Budget or Not?

Every major company and organization in the country has a budget.  Even most families devise a budget to control their costs and plan for the future.  Well, you may be surprised to learn that more often than not, the US Congress has an odd habit of going without a budget every even numbered year. 

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The Best Jobs Bill is Stuck in Congress

A bill that would create more than a million jobs through infrastructure investment is stuck in Congress and will likely be delayed until at least 2011. The bill would jumpstart investment in the nation’s deteriorating infrastructure, relieve congestion, and provide the backbone for the nation’s global competition in the 21^st Century.

In Oregon and Washington, it could provide up to $400 million for the new Columbia River Crossing project and millions for Portland’s streetcar project and crumbling Sellwood Bridge. As the nation’s unemployment rate continues to hover around 9.5 percent, investment in infrastructure seems to be the best way to create jobs. There is only one problem – nobody wants to pay for it.

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