Nonpartisan congressional research report finds LA governor took necessary

[sabra]

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Nonpartisan_congressional_research_report_finds_Louisiana_governor_took_nece_0913.html

Nonpartisan congressional research report finds Louisiana governor took necessary steps

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) issued a report Tuesday afternoon asserting that Louisiana governor Katherine Blanco took the necessary and timely steps needed to secure disaster relief from the federal government, RAW STORY has learned.

The report, which comes after a request by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) to review the law and legal accountability relating to Federal action in response to Hurricane Katrina, unequivocally concludes that she did.

"This report closes the book on the Bush Administration's attempts to evade accountability," Conyers said in a statement. "The Bush Administration was caught napping at a critical time."



The report found that:

...

The Governor did indeed make such a request, which was both timely and in compliance with federal law. The report finds that "Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco requested by letter dated August 27, 2005...that the President declare an emergency for the State of Louisiana due to Hurricane Katrina for the time period from August 26, 2005 and continuing pursuant to " and "Governor Blanco's August 27,2005 request for an emergency declaration also included her determination...that 'the incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments and that supplementary Federal assistance is necessary to save lives, protect property, public health, and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of disaster."

The full report will be available soon on the House Democrats' Judiciary website.

[sam sarrha]

1. yea !!!!

:applause:

[bribri16]

32. So why hasn't this been all over the news? FOX, CNN. MSNBC? n/t

[Demoiselle]

43. It'll be there...at least on CNN and MSNBC. Probably waiting for....

the above mentioned full report to be posted.

[acmejack]

2. Hah!

Forwarded without comment to all the jerks who have been bombarding me with disgusting RW propaganda. Thanx!

[wryter2000]

3. Can't wait

Bless you, Congressman Conyers. :loveya:

[sabra]

4. Conyers is my hero.

[Angry Girl]

7. He has true courage.

Nightweed's Hurricane Katrina Aid Organizations

[mdelaguna2000]

47. Conyers is always there for us!

Love that man.

[DemsUnited]

5. Congressional Research Service (CRS) is part of Library of Congress

It is nonpartisan, publically funded, and used by all members of the House and Senate for research on their issues. It is thorough and credible.

This report WILL hit the media and WILL be talked about in the day or two before Bush's "Big Speech" on Thursday.

[Beetwasher]

6. Well, It SHOULD Be Front Page Everywhere Tomorrow

We'll see...

[OKNancy]

8. kick

[CottonBear]

9. Nonpartisan congressional research report finds LA GOV took necessary step

Nonpartisan congressional research report finds Louisiana governor took necessary steps
John Byrne


The Congressional Research Service (CRS) issued a report Tuesday afternoon asserting that Louisiana governor Katherine Blanco took the necessary and timely steps needed to secure disaster relief from the federal government, RAW STORY has learned.

The report, which comes after a request by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) to review the law and legal accountability relating to Federal action in response to Hurricane Katrina, unequivocally concludes that she did.

"This report closes the book on the Bush Administration's attempts to evade accountability," Conyers said in a statement. "The Bush Administration was caught napping at a critical time."

<snip>
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Nonpartisan_congressional_research_report_finds_Louisiana_governor_took_nece_0913.html

The Governor did indeed make such a request, which was both timely and in compliance with federal law. The report finds that "Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco requested by letter dated August 27, 2005...that the President declare an emergency for the State of Louisiana due to Hurricane Katrina for the time period from August 26, 2005 and continuing pursuant to " and "Governor Blanco's August 27,2005 request for an emergency declaration also included her determination...that 'the incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments and that supplementary Federal assistance is necessary to save lives, protect property, public health, and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of disaster."

more...

[ibegurpard]

10. An issue really needs to be made of this

All of the attempts to "play the blame game" with the local officials should not go unanswered.

[CottonBear]

12. John Conyers is holding the * administration ACCOUNTABLE.

"This report closes the book on the Bush Administration's attempts to evade accountability," Conyers said in a statement. "The Bush Administration was caught napping at a critical time."
*********************************************************************
Thank you Mr. Conyers.

[back2basics909]

30. And almost by himself!

What a guy, we should do something for him..

[shaniqua6392]

11. Gee, I wish the MSM knew this and would put it on the air.

Sorry, I must have lost my mind for a minute there. OOPS!

[merwin]

16. Media is pissed off on this one. It'll get on the air.

Might take a few days though... getting confirmation and text of report, etc.

[DemsUnited]

20. Exactly. Responsible to wait for text which will be posted soon on

House Democrats' Judiciary website.

[AspenRose]

13. BOO-YAH

Now we need to consistently drum this home to the MSM.

[spuddonna]

14. I'm sending this to CNN and MSNBC...

Now we have internal emails from WSJ quoting how badly they f***'d up, and a CRS report saying the state did everything it was supposed to do to get Federal help.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

15. How much did this influence bush's decision to take on some responsibility

...today?

The "extent" to which the bush admin screwed up is getting harder to hide by the second.

[malaise]

22. I asked that on another thread

They all know that the dates and times have been checked and Bush was at fault.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

27. They can't hide this one under the rug

There's nothing in this disaster they can use to confuse/distract the average American.

The extent to which they will be willing to accept blame remains to be seen. It appears they are going to be held accountable for their failures whether they accept that fact gracefully or not.

[malaise]

29. Bet he's worried about the historians now

It is important that the number of dead is not hidden. This is his legacy and nothing he says or does will change that facting fact.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

38. Roughly 100%.

[OneGrassRoot]

17. Is Conyers good or what?

That was sure fast. Is it safe to do a media blast based on rawstory articles?

[DemsUnited]

19. Better to wait until the actual report is posted. Raw Story says soon.

<snip>
The full report will be available soon on the House Democrats' Judiciary website.
<snip>

When original source available, THEN watch out media, you're going to get BLASTED!!

[CottonBear]

21. Yes., it is a good idea to wait for the actual Congressional report. n/t

[OneGrassRoot]

23. Maybe this is why Blanco has been relatively silent.........

she knew this was in the works and wanted to wait to have this behind her before defending herself.

Thanks for the advice....I'll check the official site soon.

[CottonBear]

18. Oops. Dupe LBN Topic. Can a mod combine w/ first thread?

Thank you for combining. :) I think we all posted about the same time.

[ibegurpard]

24. kick

eom

[spuddonna]

25. Kicked and recommended n/t

[defiant1]

26. Kudos to Conyers!!!

:patriot:

[me b zola]

28. Good. Now maybe the press can focus on some of the facts

I would love for the press to focus on just how much life-saving humanitarian aid was turned away by federal officials. I would love for them to go down the list from the USS Battan, to the people not being allowed to leave and everything in between (that is quite a list).

The failure is so much larger than just to blame FEMA. The response, or lack there of, goes right up the chain of command to the Oval Office.

Most states have a good Samaritan law which makes one legally responsible to give aide to someone in peril. Instead of giving lifesaving assistance, the federal response was to treat the good people of New Orleans as if they are the "enemy".

[Sgent]

48. Louisiana is not one of those states

I know that for sure.

I actually think the requirement for affirmitive action is only adopted in a few states.

[me b zola]

51. A person in a position of responsibility automatically assumes that clause

As an LPN, I don't check on a particular state's law before I act. I see it as my responsibility to act where I see need. Period.

Furthermore, I am not suggesting that bush* be tried under the good samaritan law. Negligent homicide seems to be the least of the crimes that he should be tried under, crimes against humanity appears to be the most appropriate.

[bribri16]

31. That's why he's my avatar! Love this man. n/t

[demo dutch]

33. Forward to Olberman and Anderson Cooper they'll report it

[andyarundel]

49. Hope it makes it

My "smart" friends came out of a peek of this PDF with the comment that Bunnypants did all he could do and the Red Cross was not allowed into NOLA...seems the constant airing of the pic of buses was a brilliant move by Rove and Bartlett.

[Ignacio Upton]

34. Take that Rove!!

Looks like another bullshit attempt by their smear machine has failed. I don't see how an administration with a former horse director as their FEMA head can point to Blanco as the sole cause of suffering of the people in NOLA.

[rocktivity]

35. What they need to do now

is investigate why Bush tried to blackmail Blanco in turning in her power as governor over the national guard and military in exchange for troops and aid.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

36. Don't you just get sick and tired of the attempts to be "fair" by

assigning blame to the Rethuglicans and then finding some Democrat to blame, usually based on Rethug talking points?

Or sometimes they will use a slipup so trivial say by Kerry in a debate and equate that to deliberate lies by Du*ya.

At this point, I have no patience for "business as usual."

After watching Katrina, I want to scream when they start playing stupid games, the Rethugs or the media or anyone!!!

:grr:

[CAcyclist]

37. I Sent It To NOLA.com nt

[blue jay]

39. Question

Is there any way to get our hands on the report itself?

Just curious.

I sent the link to a couple of RW "friends" and they claimed that they wouldn't believe it without seeing the report.

Just "some lefty website," one told me.

[blue jay]

40. Sorry.

I missed the post that said raw story would post soon.

[JAbuchan08]

41. What about Nagin?

has anything come out documenting his conduct?

[MellowOne]

42. Thank you Mr. Conyers, You are my Hero

In a time when heroes are few and far between.

[Nothing Without Hope]

44. This was obvious from the first - her letters to Bush (on 27th and 28th)

were accessible by internet, as was the WH press release on the 27th from the WH declaring the emergency.

Now it is OFFICIAL, though. Won't stop the lies, but it's good ammunition.

Good for Conyers! Again!!!!! :patriot: :loveya:

[ladylibertee]

45. Of course she did.That's why she still has a job hahahahaha

[orleans]

46. I am so glad to see this!!! my daughter's teacher told the class

the other day that the state & local officials are the ones at fault because they turned away federal help and never requested it.

i had gotten a copy of the official letters blanco sent to the dickheaded resident and was furious when i heard what this "teacher" is teaching students in high school.

i told my daughter she needs to call her teacher on shit she thinks is incorrect--or merely this woman's opinion. now my kid has some major back-up!

(i'll be paying a little visit to the school either thursday or next week to have a little talk....school just started and already i've got a shit-list going on this repukie partisan teacher)

[emald]

50. shrub is such a liar

it's criminal. Passing the blame all over while calling for no one to play the blame game. What a fucking juvenile operation. Bunch of losers running this country. I wonder if all hope is gone?