Gene Taylor: “I have the great fortune to represent the people of south Mississippi, and on behalf of the people of south Mississippi…”

“I have the great fortune to represent the people of south Mississippi, and on behalf of the people of south Mississippi that suffered substantially in the loss of about 40,000 houses in late August of last year to Hurricane Katrina, I want to thank my fellow Americans for all the wonderful things they have done for us, for their financial help; for their college kids who came down and gave up their spring breaks to help out people; the church groups, the Rotarians, and individuals who came to provide medical care. There was a tremendous showing of generosity, of support to some people who needed it, and I hope I will never fail to thank the American people properly. Mr. Speaker, I also want to, on behalf of the people of south Mississippi, express an outrage on the handful of southern Mississippians and southern Louisianans who abused that generosity. I do not think anyone wanted to see that happen, and certainly those who have broken the law should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I am sure the people who have read that their tax dollars were used to help somebody go to a gentleman's club or get someone get a sex change, they should be justifiably angry. But let me tell you what the biggest Katrina fraud of all was. It was not done by a guy living in a FEMA trailer. It was not someone down on their luck.…”