Democrats can carve out a pro-people position on Katrina
As I noted below, Rep. Artur Davis (whom I think of as "my" representative, even though he is in the adjoining district) has introduced three bills to provide relief and protection for Katrina survivors and evacuees. The Emergency Savings Relief Act of 2005 (HR 3733) will provide victims of Hurricane Katrina the ability to withdraw funds without penalty from their individual retirement accounts and certain other retirement plans. The Emergency Medicaid Relief Act of 2005 (HR 3735) will suspend proposed federal cuts to Medicaid budgets for 29 states - including Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana - which are scheduled to go into effect September 30. And the The Displaced Citizens Voter Protection Act of 2005 (HR 3734).
DavidNYC at DailyKOS reports:
While the Republicans are busy trying to find a way to pass their abhorrent bill to repeal the estate tax, Democrats on Capitol Hill are actually trying to propose some serious - and necessary - tax relief for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Congressman Rahm Emanuel, the chair of the DCCC, and Sen. Barack Obama (both of Illinois), are sponsoring the "Hurricane Katrina Accelerated Tax Refund Act". (Dems Propose Tax Refunds for Katrina Victims )
I expect there are other such bills being introduced by Democrats. Now, if the Dems can work together to publicize these bills as a package, they can present a positive image of the party that cares for the people, as opposed to the other party that proposes tax cuts as the cure for every ill.
I commend Rep. Davis for his bill, but I urge him to go further. We need to expand his bill to provide a permanent right to an easy-to-obtain absentee ballot for all federal elections. Half the states set the reasons for absentee voting, according to the always-excellent Electionline.org A law that requires a reason means that there must be proof of that reason, and the possibility of a post-election contest or a pre-election challenge that may throw out that vote.
Let's expand the ability of our citizens to vote.