When Congress passed Public Law 109-148, it sent about $11.5 billion to Gulf Coast states for Hurricane Katrina repairs. When it passed Public Law 109-234, it sent another $5.2 billion. (These numbers are from the lawsuit discussed below.) That’s a total of about $170 per U.S. family or $55 per person.

Total Hurricane Katrina spending was much more. We kept some track of all the money here, issuing this press release in October, 2005 noting that Katrina spending was at $800 per family and rising.

Housing advocates are now suing to stop Mississippi from spending a half-billion of those federal dollars on rebuilding the State Port at Gulfport. ($5 per family / $1.50 per person)

So, the question is up to you? How do you want your Katrina dollars spent? Do you think they should go to housing? Should they go to rebuilding the port? Perhaps you want your money back, knowing that you could be spending it on propping up the financial services industry or automakers . . . .

I collected the image for this post from the Port of Gulfport’s Web site. Had to laugh at the “We Can Handle It” message. Evidently not! – if you’re dipping into my pocket for your rebuilding.

(In fairness, as soon as I need some bulk, breakbulk, or containerized shipping done, I know where to go. I wonder if I get a discount for contributing to their cause?)