Budgeting for hurricane relief

Dick Armey:

Hurricane Katrina has been a disaster for many families, the Gulf region and the nation, but it need not be a disaster for the federal budget, or the U.S. economy.
Recovery from Katrina will be least painful if the federal government offsets the cost of its relief spending by redirecting funds from lower priority programs, and continues pro-growth economic policies. Operation Offset, launched this past Wednesday by the Republican Study Committee (RSC), is a bold step in this direction.
Because federal tax dollars are not infinite, money spent recovering from Katrina has to compete with all the other programs receiving government funds. This is why Congress, to avoid further damaging the economy while funding the necessary relief, must prioritize its spending just like the generous American people donating to Katrina relief are: They need to choose giving aid over spending on less important luxuries. Like a family giving $50 to the Red Cross instead of going out to dinner, members of Congress should give to Katrina-ravaged areas the money budgeted for pet projects. Fortunately, Hurricane Rita was far less destructive than expected, so Katrina spending doesn't have to be doubled.
This redirection of funds is proposed by fiscally responsible members of Congress leading Operation Offset. This proposal puts helping victims over funding pork. It suggests lawmakers give to damaged areas the $25 billion set to fund the 6,371 pork projects in the transportation bill. Citizens on both sides of the political aisle in Bozeman, Mont., have already thought of this, and are offering to relief efforts the $4 million they had coming for a downtown parking garage.
While members of the RSC suggest giving back all earmarks, if members offered just 55 percent of their pork, as has House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, nearly $14 billion would be available for rebuilding.

...
The House could use a good dose of Dick Armey right now. The internet Pork Busters idea needs to catch fire with some House members now. Republican leaders should be shamed by having Nancy Pelosi of all people ahead of them on this issue.

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