Seeking R&R;, Lawmakers Dally On Disaster Relief

The House left Thursday night on a 10-day spring vacation without voting on billions of dollars in disaster aid for flood-ravaged areas from California to Minnesota.

Last-ditch efforts by House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia and Senate majority leader Trent Lott of Mississippi to patch together a slimmed-down aid bill failed to insure unanimous agreement in the House and Senate.

Republicans and Democrats from the afflicted states denounced Republican leaders for planning to have Congress go home without approving some or all of the $5.5 billion in emergency assistance.

“The same irresponsible crowd that shut down the government is now shutting down disaster relief,” said Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., one of the states hardest hit by floods.

What started as a disaster-relief bill to help 35 states became weighed down in recent days with dozens of unrelated provisions. Sponsors pinned their pet projects to the bill knowing it was must-pass legislation.

Rep. John Thune, R-S.D., said, “We have made a huge mistake in putting politics and process in front of people.”

Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., said, “We’re in chaos. Congress looks like it can’t put together a two-car funeral without the help of a dead undertaker.”

Senior House Republicans, including Rep. Dick Armey of Texas, the majority leader and a North Dakota native, apologized to his colleagues on the House floor for the debacle, and tried to soften the blow by insisting that other federal emergency disaster aid was in the pipeline.

But the spectacle of lawmakers heading home without precious aid to storm-struck ranchers, farmers and homeowners is certain to fuel a public perception that Washington, and the Republican-led Congress in particular, is woefully out of touch with average Americans.

“It’s terrible that people out in the Dakotas and Minnesota and other places waiting for help are going to be left empty-handed,” said Sen. Tom Daschle of South Dakota, the Senate Democratic leader.