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Spending monitor urged

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Chicago Tribune
Jeff Zeleny

WASHINGTON -- Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) are introducing legislation Wednesday to appoint a watchdog to oversee the federal spending in the effort to restore and rebuild the Gulf Coast.

Congressional leaders have said they could devote up to $200 billion in hurricane relief. Last week alone, a $51.8 billion plan was approved, which followed an initial investment of $10.5 billion in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Obama and Coburn say independent oversight is needed over the huge spending of tax dollars. Their legislation calls for a controller to be appointed immediately to oversee how the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies use the money.