You Can Bank On It

Georgia Congressman Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA 8th) Friday defended his vote against the U.S. federal government’s $51.8 billion hurricane aid package.

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Westmoreland returned to Atlanta Friday evening after casting what some of his constituents and others consider one of the most controversial votes of his political career, so far. He was one of only 11 U.S. Congress members – and the only Georgian – who did not vote for the landmark disaster relief aid package.

“I certainly don’t want to keep any money away from the relief effort,” Westmoreland said, speaking from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

But he said Congress approved the extra money without imposing any fiscal controls, which would help guarantee that the federal aid reaches the survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

I can understand the desire to have some sort of accountability for the money being handed out, but it was “fiscal controls” at all levels of the government that added to this crisis in the first place.

“But, we need to make sure that we’re helping them in the right way,” the congressman said.

I couldn’t agree more, and right now, “helping them in the right way” would not be withholding money until congress could agree on oversight and accountability issues.

I voted for you Congressman Westmoreland and you can believe me, I will be “helping you in the right way” come the next election.