Thread: Bush to offer Valley more aid; (including illegals!)

Interesting how they fail to mention "ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS" as recipients anywhere in this article! I have no problem with the farmers and citizens receiving aid but I do object to illegal aliens receiving taxpayer funds! I write Jim Costa all the time and never get a favorable response. But since he is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus should I expect more?

Bush to offer Valley more aid
By Michael Doyle / The Fresno Bee
03/13/07 14:02:47


WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is offering more aid to the freeze-stricken San Joaquin Valley, with the president due to declare part of the region a major disaster area Wednesday.

In a compromise decision, the White House is making available surplus food as well as extended unemployment coverage for workers. The assistance is more than is currently available, though less than has been offered for other presidential-declared disasters.

"Look, it's a step in the right direction," Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia, said Tuesday afternoon. "It took a little bit longer than I would have liked…but this is one step we need to make."

Nunes, other Valley lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger were alerted to the pending White House announcement in afternoon courtesy calls by Office of Management and Budget Director Rob Portman. Portman is a former House member, accustomed to the maneuvering that takes place around disaster politics.

Weeks in the making, Bush's disaster declaration being formally announced Wednesday will provide two forms of assistance centering on the Tulare and Fresno county farmers hurt by a sharp freeze in January. The frost caused more than $1.2 billion worth of crop damage, with citrus orchards and packing houses hit particularly hard.

"These farm workers, these campesinos, are out of work," Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, said on the House floor last Friday, as he urged quicker White House action. "These farmers have their life holdings in these citrus orchards."

Approximately $17 million to $20 million worth of food will be provided through federal channels, according to information provided to Nunes's office. Local foodbanks will serve it up. "The number-one issue is making sure people get food on the table," Nunes said.

Out-of-work Valley residents who lost their jobs as a direct result of the January freeze can also be eligible for 26 weeks of federally funded disaster unemployment assistance, under the president's declaration.

The White House budget office originally appeared skeptical of the disaster request, Valley lawmakers reported. Questions were raised about the full scope of the disaster, and some lawmakers thought the White House had concerns about appearing to provide taxpayer assistance to illegal immigrants.

Normally, presidential disaster declarations open the door to additional forms of new assistance. These other customary aid packages, which are not being provided to the San Joaquin Valley, include cash grants and temporary housing assistance.

The new assistance differs from what is available from the natural disaster declaration previously made by the Agriculture Department disaster on Feb. 5. The Agriculture Department's declaration, spanning 18 California counties, primarily provides low-interest loans for distressed farmers.

Congress will be pumping in additional freeze relief, by adding several billion dollars to an Iraq War supplemental funding package set for approval by the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday.

http://www.fresnobee.com/406/story/35069.html

The frost caused more than $1.2 billion worth of crop damage,

That's probably at least double the actual amount, maybe more???!!

Just once I'd like to see a little concern over how they spend our money or even consider is we might care about using it for people who do not belong here.

And if they were out of work why did they not go home???