A Tax Package Proposed for Hurricane Sandy
This article discusses the features of a tax package proposed by Senators Charles E. Schumer of New York and Robert Menendez of New Jersey for the damage of Hurricane Sandy. These elements include cleanup cost deductions, tax exemptions, and tax credit extensions. The package is claimed to be "modeled [by] the tax package... to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina." I am slightly worried by this claim after seeing that video of the aftermath in New Orleans and hearing about thousands of people who were not receiving the help that they needed. Although it was stated that Mr. Schumer believed the adoption of the package was "common sense," he may be somewhat biased. Do you think this is an adequate tax package for the circumstance?
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I find it surprising that Hurricane Sandy would have a tax package greater than Hurricane Katrina's tax package in 2005, which was $6.1 billion. Although the economic disaster of Hurricane Sandy was apparent, I did not picture it as devastating as that of Hurricane Katrina. Perhaps the increase has something to do with the inadequate support that immediately followed Hurricane Katrina, and is an attempt at providing more sufficient care as quickly as possible for those who need it.
ReplyDeleteIt seems disconcerting that "officials putting the package together estimate it will be larger than the $6.1 billion tax package adopted after Hurricane Katrina." While Sandy did cause serious devastation, it was nowhere near the level of Katrina. I don't think it would be right to provide more aid to New York and New Jersey than Louisiana received.
ReplyDeleteIt makes absolutely no sense for the package to be larger than Katrina's. Yes, Hurricane Sandy caused serious devastation but no where near the level of devastation of Hurricane Katrina. I agree with Kira that it is an attempt to provide quicker, more sufficient care than we saw during Hurricane Katrina. Another mistake like the ones we saw during Hurricane Katrina could outrage people but providing so much more will also outrage those who were victimized by Katrina.
ReplyDeleteThere is absolutely no reason as to why the package should be larger than Katrina. On top of this package, victims of Sandy have also received help and aid from non-profit organizations like the Red Cross and have had several volunteers go in and help clean up. Yes, the package is common sense, but we just have to be smart about how much money is being spent on these. That's why out of control spending happens, especially when people spend more than comes in. I also agree with Amanda that if the package contains more funding towards Sandy than did Katrina, then the victims of Katrina will be outraged and upset.
ReplyDeleteLet's remember that New Orleans does not compare in size to New York City. Damage to New York City could be much more catastrophic than the small Lousisiana city, even when the levees are breached(the Mayor of NO claimed the city was to small to help itself in the aftermath of Katrina). I can definitely understand why the package should be larger than Katrina's. New York is the home of the stock market and is one of the central business places across the globe; if people can't get to work for at least a week there, then you can expect a large tax package.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sean, that since New York and New Jersey are more populated that the hurricane Sandy probably did more damage to more business and homes that hurricane Katrina, but I would aspect the package to be much larger than hurricane Katrine. Hopefully the victims of hurricane Sandy are gettin help faster and that our country learned from the mistakes it mad with hurricane Katrina.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I know, Hurricane Sandy victims have gotten help much faster than the victims of Hurricane Katrina. New York is also more of a major player on the international stage than New Orleans. The U.N. building is there. So, it makes sense that the government would cover more of the damages than they did for Katrina, because they need to make sure everything is up an running again so that the world can keep revolving around New York's stock markets and politics as it has been.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Aaron. The industry and economic assets that are in the New York and New Jersey areas stand as reason enough for the quicker response and higher recovery budget. Hurricane Katrina did hit a larger area harder, but the areas that it hit were much lower income counties. I'm not saying that it's right that the Sandy victims are receiving more money to rebuild, (I find it disgusting actually)but it is more of a reason for the government to help its economic assets and partners in both those states.
DeleteI dont understand all of the complaints that Sandy is receiving more aid than Katrina did to me that shows the fact that Katrina did not receive too much as opposed to Sandy receiving too much.
ReplyDeleteI think something does need to be done to alleviate pressures on Hurricane Sandy victims. I do wonder where the money will come from to compensate for the tax cut package. While I find it slightly concerning that anything would be modeled after the Katrina recovery, the response to Sandy has been much more effective so far, so if leaders in these states are suggesting this idea, I would not be opposed to looking into it further.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it does not make sense for the package to be larger for Sandy than it was for Katrina. The damage was severe in both cases, but neither New York nor New Jersey is or was eighty percent under water. I do think it is good that help was more expedient in the case of Sandy though, it shows improvement.
ReplyDeleteI do not know whether NY and NJ are receiving more funding than Katrina victims because those states are so populated that more people were affected or whether the government is trying to make up for what happened with Katrina and in this possibly over-funding they will gain the support and increased faith of Americans in their actions. I would like to think that the government is not over-estimating the damages because in that case they are wasting money when we need to be spending money wisely in our country's economic state.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Sandy did cause expansive damage, it did not cause nearly as much devastation or damage as Katrina. I do not find it rational that more would have to be spent on relief efforts in New York.
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