Saints fever gets noticed in nation’s capital
As the Saints prepare to square off with the hapless Washington Redskins this weekend, Washington Post reporter Mark Maske has a story about the recovery effort in New Orleans and the rise of the Saints and how the Saints are somehow fueling hope in the city.
"These people have been through so much, and they're looking for leadership," said Doug Thornton, a senior vice president for SMG, the management company that runs the Superdome. "They're looking for inspiration. And this football team is providing that."
While it is preposterous to think that the Saints will have any major impact on the lives of those struggling to rebuild their lives, aside from the few magical hours of escape provided as the team scorches opposes teams, Maske does hit the mark when he drills down, exploring the special bond between the fans and the team.
“Brees was asked how the feeling inside the building Monday compared to the feeling on Sept. 25, 2006, when the Saints beat the Atlanta Falcons in their return to the Superdome. ‘That night will always be special, kind of unto itself,’ Brees said, but added: ‘I'd like to think every time we win it continues to bring our city together and unites us all. That's what's special about the bond between our team and our fans.’”
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Vitter makes his mark in health care reform
While one Louisiana senator, Democrat Mary Landrieu, has drawn heavy flak for the inclusion of a $300 million appropriation in the health care reform bill, the other, Republican David Vitter is preparing to co-author an amendment, which would force the Washington lawmakers to use any public option health care plan – if it were to become law.
Vitter is joining forces with Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), who, on Thursday, introduced a measure to whack the $300 million appropriation.
The senators, according to J. Taylor Rushing from The Hill, “are preparing an amendment to force members of Congress into any public option health plan that becomes law, frustrating at least one Senate Democrat who wants to join the effort.”
Rushing reports that Sen. Sherrod Brown from Ohio is for the public option and has tried to join the senators across the aisle to show support but has been unable. Brown suggests that Vitter and Colburn are introducing the measure to score partisan points.
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Has the Katrina cup run dry?
Those who live in the metro area often wonder if the nation is tired of hearing Louisiana’s sob story from Hurricane Katrina; “Katrina fatigue” it is commonly called.
One legislator in Washington, D.C., according to an Associated Press story in USA Today, clearly has been fatigued by Louisiana from Katrina.
“Rep. Darrell Issa noted Louisiana's top income tax rate is 6 percent compared with 10.5 percent in his home state of California. He said California taxpayers deserve to know what Louisiana is doing to generate other revenue.
“Alan Levine, health secretary under Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal, said the state is facing unprecedented challenges, particularly from a looming cut in federal matching funds for its Medicaid program. Louisiana officials say the huge infusion of recovery funding in recent years has skewed the federal matching rate for Medicaid so that Louisiana will see a historic drop in funding next year. The change could lead to a nearly $1 billion shortfall, possibly pushing the program into insolvency, Levine said.”
