Project Katrina

Well this is fairly good news. In a new bill being promoted by Senate Democrats:

A new $24 billion economic stimulus and disaster assistance package unveiled Thursday by Senate Democrats would provide $3 billion for continued Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts, financing that was left out of the emergency spending bill enacted in June.

The legislation would give Louisiana 30 years, instead of three, to repay more than $1.7 billion as its share of levee upgrades in metro New Orleans; $350 million to help hospitals in Louisiana and Mississippi deal with cash-flow issues and other post-hurricane problems; and $75 million to help fight increased violent crime and rebuild police fire and criminal justice facilities.

Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., praised Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., for including Katrina needs in the new emergency supplemental/stimulus spending bill he unveiled Thursday.