Bush's Marie Antoinette response.....

From NOLA.com: "Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, said that her legislation, co-sponsored by Vitter and Landrieu, for bridge loans to help small businesses reopen after the hurricane was stymied because of opposition from the White House, which indicated the program would be too expensive. Such loans, Snowe said, are critical to New Orleans' recovery. "

Liquidity, in the form of bridge loans, grants, loan restructuring, tax credits or whatever, is one of the most valuable contributions the Federal Govt. could make to help New Orleans' recovery. The City and State have little or reduced revenues and little savings; business owners have to survive for 6-12 months with no income just to return to their shops. Liquidity provides the avenues to recovery; the details of the long-term financial solution can be worked out later.

As usual, this "business-friendly" administration doesn't understand rudimentary business principles and the "compassionate" conservatives don't trust the small business-person enough to want to rebuild their lives, to make the loan.