Not the Time for Reactionary Legislation

Roll Call is reporting that the parties are divided over legislative responses to Katrina. Before Congress rushes headlong into legislating and appropriating in response to Katrina, a pause should be taken.

Beyond emergency appropriations, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and other Democrats pressed to pass legislation by the end of this week that would extend federal social programs such as Medicaid, subsidized housing and unemployment insurance to newly homeless and jobless residents of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama...But the Democrats’ proposals and demands for "immediate" Congressional action were received somewhat skeptically by Republicans.

Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairman Jon Kyl (Ariz.) urged Members to “take a deep breath and think carefully.” Kyl suggested creating a bipartisan task force that would develop a legislative package within 30 days. (emphasis added)

Congress, as an institution, is notoriously bad at rapid action involving complex policy matters. Anything done in one week or in 30 days or in any time frame less than several months of extended study and debate carries with it significant chances for screw-ups. As evidence, I offer none other than the Patriot Act.

Sure Congress many come up with some good ideas, but for the most part, the bad will outweigh the good in this case. If you start handing out government aid, you will create a program that will have to be sustained for these victims and extended to victims of future natural disasters such as California earthquakes, Midwest tornadoes and southeastern hurricanes. In short, if you give these folks additional aid beyond that already available, what will prevent the government from providing the same aid to future victims. In short--nothing.

I realize my statements may seem callous and I am fine with that. Government aid already exists for victims of disasters. Why do we need more? Is more government aid necessary? Perhaps, but laws already on the books provide aid for these vicitms for a significant period of time. Let Congress use the time to think more about the consequences, intended and unintended, of their actions. Congress is a deliberative body--lets hope that Congress comes to work.