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Thursday, October 27, 2005

Additional Katrina Spending Bill Expected Friday

The Bush administration is putting the finishing touches on another Katrina spending relief bill tonight and it is expected on Capitol Hill tomorrow. Early reports indicate the bill will propose to use up to $17 billion in already appropriated funds to begin reconstruction of federal facilities damanged by the hurricanes.

Although there is still a substantial amount of the previously appropriated $62 billion in relief funds left to be spent, federal rules prohibit that money from being spent on other projects, such as repairs of military bases, highways, and other federal infrastructure. The Associated Press reports the shift in funds would most likely be used for "repairs to Interstate 10 in Mississippi and Louisiana and Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi."

AP: White House Readies New Hurricane Request