Iowa Congressman Jim Nussle, who chairs the House Budget Committee, says he opposes paying to rebuild the Gulf Coast by piling the costs on to the deficit. Nussle, a Republican from Manchester, says detailed plans are needed for both emergency relief and for rebuilding. Nussle proposes offsetting as much of the cost as possible with a downpayment by reducing wasteful spending and continuing to reform spending and entitlements with a “tough…tight budget” next year. He says the federal government needs to do a better job of controlling spending. Nussle says a vigorous debate is needed to determine where New Orleans will be rebuilt. He says “I for one don’t think that it’s obvious to build back in a below-sea level situation. I don’t think that’s compassionate.” Nussle says his initial budget proposal contained cuts they may now want to reconsider in light of the hurricane damage.
