WLOX Editorial: Congressman Palazzo's Sandy relief vote doesn't put South MS in a good light

Ungrateful, unbelievable, hypocritical- that's how we and a lot of South Mississippians feel about our congressman, Steven Palazzo, voting against the hurricane Sandy relief bill which passed the U.S. House. The $10 billion aid package will help shore up the National Flood Insurance Program and pay New Jersey and New York residents who were insured and flooded. A larger Sandy relief bill will be considered later this month.

By voting against the Sandy relief, our congressman basically said south Mississippi doesn't care. While we agree that the national flood insurance program must be revamped, you should not penalize the people who are struggling to recover from Hurricane Sandy.

When Hurricane Katrina slammed into Mississippi, New York's congressional delegation came here and saw our need. Has Mr. Palazzo been to New York or New Jersey? Has he offered those storm victims a ray of hope?

Federal aid was not only welcomed here after Katrina, it was vital to our recovery. Palazzo's vote clearly does not recognize that and makes the congressman appear to care more about his political agenda than helping storm victims.

Rebuilding after a natural disaster is not the time to vote as Palazzo said, on principle. Imagine if congressional leaders had voted on principle after Katrina, how devastating that would have been to our recovery.

That's our opinion, we would like to hear yours. Email your thoughts to editorials@wlox.com, or post your comments below.

David Vincent
WLOX-TV General Manager

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