State and local governments in Gulf Coast areas devastated by the 2005 hurricanes will no longer be required to pay 10 percent of the cost of repairing their roads, schools and other public works, under a provision of the emergency war spending bill approved by Congress on Thursday night.
Louisiana officials had said that the need to cover some of the repair costs themselves, instead of having the federal government assume all costs, was significantly slowing their recovery efforts. They praised Congress for making the change, which they estimated would save the state and its affected communities at least $775 million.
What to say? My equity (i.e., good) side says I'm hoping the Katrina damaged part of the U.S. comes back as soon as possible. My efficiency (i.e., bad) side says that I know this will increase the damages due to natural disasters in the future. As U.S. citizens see that the federal government will always bail out ill-advised behavior, they'll live in floodplains, on beaches, and other risky areas.
