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“What Would Happen If We ‘Cajunized’ It?

Sue Lincoln

Congressman Garret Graves of Louisiana’s 6th District is frustrated with the pace of flood recovery.

“Government has a fundamental customer service problem,” he told the Baton Rouge Press Club Monday. “What would happen if we ‘Cajunized’ it?”

He was referring to the way the volunteers of the self-described “Cajun Navy” and “Cajun Army” swept into action to rescue people, then help gut damaged homes.

“People – that’s where the efficiency was,” Graves stated. “Things were speeding in terms of the rescue and the recovery. And then, when we saw the government get involved is when the brakes were put on.”

Graves used much of his speaking time at the luncheon arguing for across-the-board federal deregulation. Specific to the flood, he said complying with federal regulations is eating up both time and money that flood victims desperately need.

“The state’s proposal showed that almost one-third of the funds were going to be spent on administration and compliance costs – one third!”

He pointed to the first pot of federal money -- $428-million – being given to the state through HUD Community Development Block Grants.

“The floodwaters didn’t discriminate, yet our government is. The plan that has been put forth says this is going to go primarily to low and moderate income,” Graves said, noting that leaves middle and upper-income flood victims out of options.

Reporters reminded Graves that federal law requires HUD to help low and moderate income citizens first. His response?

“Can it be waived? Yes.”

Reporters also brought up Louisiana’s history of post-disaster fraud. The full extent of fraudulent Katrina claims may never be known. And Livingston Parish – hardest hit by this year’s August flood – is still fighting FEMA over $58-million in Gustav claims which the federal disaster agency maintains were fraudulent.

“I want to be clear: I will never condone, you know, waste, fraud and abuse,” Graves responded.  “But there is a time value of money. There is a victimization factor here that needs to be considered. And I think what would make more sense is to be more generous about the allocation of dollars on the front end; have an aggressive accountability program on the back end; and then clean up your books after the fact.”