2nd Letter to Santorum

Senator Santorum,

President Bush has come out against the Baker Bill. For several reasons, I think this is a bad decision. One, the people of the state despite politics, race, or wealth agree that this plan makes the most sense, and it does. Over 200,000 homes have been destroyed or damaged in Metro New Orleans. While I think most people appreciate the $6 billion in "block grants" to help rebuild the city, According to my math, this provides each homeowner approximately $30,000 for his/her property. Could you rebuild your life for that much?

As you know, the Baker Bill will provide money to buy out homeowners at 60% of their pre-Katrina values. For a lot of the homes destroyed in the Lower 9th Ward, this is not a lot. While this might sound like a generous offer, would you like someone to buy you out for 60%? Of course, you would then be free to buy back into the system or move away, but you would lose your right to live in the neighborhood you called home, your entire life, and all your memories. Does that sound fair? It doesn't really sound fair, but the people of Louisiana have agreed to it because it's the best plan they have right now. At least they would get something. Right now, 5 months after Katrina, they have nothing (and some less than nothing if they are paying mortgages on property that is unusable and uninhabitable).

While there may appear to be a lot of corruption in Louisiana and in New Orleans, there are a lot of good people who are suffering. Suffering Let me ask you this question: If a natural disaster struck Pennsylvania, would you want your most unsrupulous citizens' sins held against you?

I have been to New Orleans as recently as last weekend, and things are bad still. There is still garbage everywhere, there are cars still under houses, and people have yet to come home (whatever home might be at this point). There are two kinds of people in New Orleans - those that have been flooded and have lost everything and are on the verge of losing hope, and those that were not flooded who fear for the future of their city, their jobs, and their friends and neighbors. Which group would you prefer to be a member of?

I would love to have a conversation about this.

Thank you for your time.