WASHINGTON (AP) -- A delegation of officials led by Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas is hoping the federal government will pick up the entire tab for the repair of the city's infrastructure and government buildings, which were damaged by Hurricane Ike.
Thomas warned lawmakers yesterday in meetings on Capitol Hill that the city could not afford to pay 25 percent of the recovery costs as required because tax revenues have plummeted.
The Galveston officials also sought congressional support for more than $25 million in the massive economic stimulus package still in Congress for "shovel-ready" construction projects.
Republican U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison promised to continue to help the city recover from Hurricane Ike.
Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said he believed that lawmakers could persuade Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano to waive a requirement that the community must pay a share of recovery costs.
The Bush administration forgave Louisiana communities' share following Hurricane Katrina.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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