Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Reid expects disaster probe by independent panel

WASHINGTON -- Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada on Tuesday predicted an independent panel similar to the 9-11 Commission will be created to investigate the government's response to Hurricane Katrina.

Reid said he told President Bush and congressional leaders during a meeting at the White House to expect a commission to be formed.

"I told all the leaders here and the president that it might just as well be accepted; we're going to have an independent commission to study what went wrong," Reid said.

"Mark my words, it's going to happen."

Reid stopped short of calling for the ouster of Mike Brown, the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but he said FEMA's performance "has been a total failure in this instance."

Reid said FEMA has become a "toothless tiger," and should be re-established as a Cabinet agency, as it was before being folded into the Department of Homeland Security.

The White House had no comment on Reid's predictions of an independent commission. Bush on Tuesday pledged to lead an investigation on Hurricane Katrina, and Congress plans its own probe.

As the Senate returned from a summer recess, Reid called for lawmakers to concentrate their efforts on hurricane relief.

Reid estimated the cost to respond to the disaster would be about $150 billion, and he would support a spending increase to meet the need.

But he said he anticipated Josh Bolten, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, would submit a budget supplemental request to Congress by Wednesday that would seek only $40 billion to $50 billion.

Congress should have provided more money to bolster the levies that failed to prevent the flooding of New Orleans, Reid said.

As ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on energy and water, Reid said, "we fought the (Bush administration for more money) every step of the way."

Reid also expressed optimism that John Roberts, the president's nominee to succeed William Rehnquist as chief justice of the Supreme Court, may be confirmed quickly by the Senate. Rehnquist died Saturday.

"I think there's a shot that can all be wrapped up prior to the beginning of the (new) session (of the Supreme Court next month)," Reid said.

Reid said he hoped the White House would move slowly in picking a nominee to succeed Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who has announced her retirement.

Reid declared himself well after suffering a mini-stroke last month in Nevada. He sustained a transient ischemic attack that involves a brief interruption of blood supply to the brain.

"I've been advised medically that I have no restrictions on my activities," Reid said. "I am so fortunate to now return to work in the place I love -- the United States Senate."