(Washington, DC)— Congresswoman Diane E. Watson (CA-33rd) issued the following statement on President Bush’s September 15 address to the nation:

“Tonight President Bush committed the vast resources of our nation to rebuild the shattered Gulf Coast region.  But I am not convinced that he understands the depth of the problem or the level of sustained commitment needed to rebuild the region.

“President Bush acknowledges that the reconstruction effort will be the most expensive in our nation’s history, perhaps costing hundreds of billions of dollars.  But he has not leveled with the American public about how the federal government will pay for the clean-up and reconstruction of the Gulf Coast.  He still talks about making tax cuts, mostly for wealthy Americans, permanent.  In fact, some in his own party argue that the Katrina disaster is all the more justification for making tax cuts permanent.  He does not level with the American people about a growing national deficit that is now buffeted by the twin storms of Katrina and Iraq.

“President Bush says he will take full responsibility for the federal government’s inadequate response in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  He has instructed his cabinet to undertake a thorough review of mistakes made.  But he fails to let the American people know that his administration’s approach and commitment to oversight and review are, at best, anemic.  He chooses not to tell them that his own party’s congressional leaders, even in a time of national tragedy, are attempting to subvert meaningful review and oversight of the Katrina disaster.

“President Bush talks about making the people of the Gulf region whole again and addressing widespread poverty that pervades the region.  But he fails to talk about jobs programs that will immediately put Gulf Coast residents back to work and substantive initiatives to rid our nation of the peculiar curse of poverty and racism.  He fails to discuss how our nation will transition the poor of the region into our nation’s ownership society where they are paid at a liveable and prevailing wage rate.

“The President’s actions speak louder than his soaring rhetoric.  That’s why we see in the immediate aftermath of Katrina that it’s really business as usual.  Old cronies–such as Haliburton, which has already received a multi-million no-bid, cost-plus, federal contract–are queuing up at the levee gates ready to line their pockets even before the flood waters recede.”