http://www.chron.com/…

Some Galveston officials aren’t too pleased with their congressional representative, Ron Paul, R-Lake Jackson, for voting against the $22.8 billion disaster recovery aid package on Wednesday.

“That’s sad. That’s bad,” City Manager Steve LeBlanc said.

“I find it very distressing,” said Councilwoman Karen Mahoney, who represents the West End of the island, where damage was extreme. “He’s voting against aid for the region that he represents? I don’t find that very representative.”

Texas won’t get all that money, since some is dedicated to Iowa flood victims, Gustav victims and other disaster areas, but it could get more than half.

The legislation passed the House on Wednesday, 370-58. It also included other federal spending and the lifting of the ban on offshore drilling in the Atlantic and Pacific.

Eight of the Houston area’s nine lawmakers voted for the bill, with the exception of Paul. His spokeswoman, Rachel Mills, said Thursday that the congressman did not vote for the bill because it contained other “unconstitutional” provisions, which she did not specify.

Paul is famous for his consistent positions on limited government and low taxes. His views have drawn a vocal grass-roots following across the country.

Reactions among Galvestonians were mixed.

“That’s not too good,” said Mareia Schreiber while shaking out water-soaked artwork. “It feels kind of bad for the citizens of Galveston.”

But other residents said Paul’s vote didn’t bother them. “We’ve worked hard all our lives,” said Gene Lossow. “We take care of ourselves. I don’t need FEMA or anything else. We got insurance.”

Lossow, 65, works as a clerk at the Port of Galveston. The floodwaters soaked through his one-story ranch house, rising to 4 feet. Lossow and his wife had just spent $90,000 renovating the home a few months ago.

Lossow, who said he doesn’t vote, shrugged at news of the aid package. “There are too many people who expect the government to take care of them. But I’m not one of them.”

Tina Rios, who was helping her elderly parents clean out their flooded home on Ibis Street, said it was too early for her to think about “political stuff.”

“The only thing going on in our house is trying to save whatever we can,” she said. “We had flood insurance, but not contents insurance.”

Mills said Paul voted for a separate bill that passed Wednesday, the Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008. The measure offers individuals and businesses in disasters to claim tax deductions for losses and to write-off expenses related to cleanup.

Who knows what the sampling was like but it’s encouraging to see some people out there who are truly self sufficient. He’s been doing this for years and they keep electing him so these kinds of votes must not really concern the people much.

2008 ACS Questionnaire – English |  Spanish

Persons

1. Name
2. Relation to first person surveyed
3. Sex
4. Age, Birthday
5. Of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?
6. Race
7. Place of birth?
8. Citizen?
9. Year came to USA?
10. Attended school/college in past 3 months? Grade?
11. Highest level completed?
12. Ethnic origin?
13. Speak a language other than English?
14. Live in home 1 year ago?
15. Covered by health insurance?
16. Deaf?
17. Difficulty remembering/making decisions? Walking, claiming stairs? Dressing or bathing?
18. Because of physical, mental, emotional condition have difficulty doing errands?
19. Marital status?
20. Past year got married, widowed, divorced?
21. Number of times married?
22. Year last married?
23. If female, given birth in past year?
24. Any grandchildren under 18 in home?
25. Been on active duty in military?
26. When?
27. Have a VA service-connected disability rating?
28. Paid for work in past week?
29. Where did they work?
30. How do they get to work?
31. How many people ride to work?
32. What time do they leave for work?
33. How long to get to work?
34. Were they laid off from work last week?
35. Last 4 weeks, looking for work?
36. Last week, could have started if offered?
37. When last worked?
38. Past year, work 50 or more weeks?
39. Past year, how many hours per week?
40. Private employee? Government employee?
41. Employer?
42. Business type?
43. Category?
44. Job work type?
45. Most important duties?
46. Income earned in past year broken down
47. Total income in past year

Housing

1. Building description
2. When was it built
3. When did you move into the building
4. How many acres
5. Sales of agricultural products from property in past year
6. Is there a business on the property?
7. How many separate rooms in the building, bedrooms?
8. Does it have: hot/cold running water, flush toilet, sink with faucet, stove, refrigerator, telephone?
9. How many automobiles?
10. Most used fuel for heating?
11. Cost of electricity,gas last month? water/sewer, heating fuel in past year?
12. In past year did anyone receive food stamps?
13. Building part of a condominium?
14. Is the building owned, rented?
15. Whats the monthly rent?
16. What would it sell for now?
17. Annual real estate taxes?
18. Annual payment for fire, hazard, flood insurance?
19. Have a mortgage, deed of trust, contract to purchase, or other debt on this property? What’s the monthly payment?
20. Do you have a second mortage or home equity lone on this property?
21. Total annual costs for property taxes, rent, fees?