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HASTERT: REBUILDING NEW ORLEANS "DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME" |
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by Associated Press September 2, 2005 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- It makes no sense to spend billions of dollars to rebuild a city that's 7 feet under sea level, House Speaker Dennis Hastert said of federal assistance for hurricane-devastated New Orleans. Democratic lawmakers from Louisiana were quick to disagree Thursday and Hastert sought to clarify the comment during the day. "It looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed," the Illinois Republican said in an interview Wednesday about New Orleans with the Daily Herald of Arlington Heights, Ill. Louisiana Rep. Charlie Melancon called the comments irresponsible and Sen. Mary L. Landrieu urged Hastert to focus on the humanitarian crisis at hand. Hastert, in a transcript supplied by the suburban Chicago newspaper, said there was no question that the people of New Orleans would rebuild their city, but noted that federal insurance and other federal aid was involved. "We ought to take a second look at it. But you know, we build Los Angeles and San Francisco on top of earthquake fissures and they rebuild, too. Stubbornness." Asked in the interview whether it made sense to spend billions rebuilding a city that lies below sea level, he replied, "I don't know. That doesn't make sense to me." Hastert later issued a statement saying he was not "advocating that the city be abandoned or relocated." "My comments about rebuilding the city were intended to reflect my sincere concern with how the city is rebuilt to ensure the future protection of its citizens and not to suggest that this great and historic city should not be rebuilt," the statement said. |