JACKSON - In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the venerable New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that Louisiana residents feel "shortchanged" in the federal government's provision of hurricane relief and feel that Mississippi enjoys more political "clout" in Washington than does their state.
First, let's address the "clout" issue. Does Mississippi have more Capitol Hill political clout than does Louisiana?
Answer: Yes. Cochran, Lott, Barbour, Wicker, Pickering, Taylor and Thompson trump your congressional delegation big time.
Who is responsible for that "clout" deficit down on the bayou?
Answer: Louisiana voters, take a good look in the mirror and - as you folks like to tell us - "let the good times roll."
Has Louisiana been shortchanged? Let's take a look at the numbers.
As of last week, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency said Louisiana had received $539 million in community disaster loans while Mississippi had received $104 million.
FEMA said Louisiana had received $1.2 billion in public assistance funds while Mississippi had received $680 million. Louisiana had to date received $978 million in "other needs" assistance while Mississippi got $308 million.
Louisiana got $6.2 billion in Community Development Block Grant funds while Mississippi got $5.3 billion.
Bottom line, Louisiana has received the majority of the money and by far the lion's share of the nation's media attention in the storm's aftermath.
Were it not for Mississippi native Robin Roberts on ABC's "Good Morning America" and a few others, the national media would have had the nation believe that Louisiana was decimated and that Mississippi was hit by a brisk breeze and a brief rain shower.
Can I back that up? Yep.
Columbia School of Journalism conducted research in the aftermath of the storm that proves that storm victims in Louisiana, specifically in New Orleans, got more than twice the national media attention than did victims in Mississippi - where towns like Waveland and Bay St. Louis were almost obliterated.
Mississippi storm victims toiled in virtual anonymity, digging out and getting by and suffering hardships just the same as those in Louisiana. When it got down to it after Katrina, Mississippians set about helping themselves.
At first, that meant public work crews clearing the roads and citizens cranking their own chain saws. It meant the Baptists and other religious groups setting up hot food lines for the long haul.
It meant Mississippi public officials - from Gov. and Mrs. Barbour on down to Waveland Mayor Tommy Longo - doing the hard work on the ground organizing and inspiring a meaningful recovery.
The power company crews, the National Guard, and thousands of volunteers should be mentioned, too. But it was Mississippi's storm victims - proud, defiant, willing to work and to suffer - who are the real heroes.
New Orleans got Geraldo Rivera crying crocodile tears in prime time on Fox News. Mississippi got U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran working behind the scenes in Washington to bring unprecedented federal aid to both states.
So pardon Mississippians if we aren't moved by Louisiana complaints of feeling "shortchanged." Mississippi politicians did the heavy lifting for the aid you're receiving.
Nobody in Mississippi is talking about rebuilding "chocolate" cities or arguing with the president about who controls the National Guard.
Mississippi has set about rebuilding our state - for all citizens - and is using every tool in the toolbox to get it done.
