Simple answer: Katrina relief meshes with fiscal responsibility to the extent it is funded by cuts in pork
barrel spending in the rest of the budget and does not involve new pork
of its own. Fortunately, President Bush has offered to pay for relief
through spending cuts.

Others will say we need to raise taxes to pay for Iraq and Katrina. As usual, that assumes all money currently spent should be spent. Bad premise.

The other questions this brings up are:

1. How does “the bloating budget for Katrina” align with personal responsibility? This blog has addressed it here and here.

2. Who has a better alternative? The Democrats do not–they are still pinning blame, crying racism, and pushing an independent commission like the 9/11 Commission (one that, like the independent counsel, sees no end to its mandate).