Katrina costing $1bn a day
2005-09-07 19:25
Washington - The head of the US senate budget committee said on Wednesday that the Hurricane Katrina relief operation is costing $1bn a day.
Senator Thad Cochrane said the administration had expected about $500m a day would be spent on the emergency operation, but expenses had doubled as the relief effort gathered pace and the extent of the disaster became apparent.
Cochrane said the administration would have to seek a new spending bill from congress within two weeks.
According to senator Harry Reid, the Democratic leader in senate, President George W Bush will seek an additional $40bn to $50bn to finance relief and reconstruction efforts.
Congress has already passed a $10.5bn special spending bill.
- SAPA