No NOLA Visits for Utah's Congressional Delegates

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) A group of high-profile New Orleans women are upset that six states, including Utah, have yet to send members of Congress to witness the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Congressman Jim Matheson says he has no need to visit the Big Easy, because his colleagues keep him informed.

"I've talked to a guy that lost his house, and I think that's a first hand witness," says Matheson. "Two very good friends of mine in Congress are from that area and they've done a very effective job of making sure I understand the magnitude of what happened."

Matheson says he's been a significant supporter of measures to aid victims and rebuild New Orleans. A spokesman for Congressman Rob Bishop agrees, saying there are quote "a lot of places the Congressman hasn't been." Congressman Chris Cannon's Chief of Staff says Cannon tends not to quote "jump on the doing things for show bandwagon" and hasn't felt the need to visit New Orleans. Utah Senator Bob Bennett is planning a trip to the city in the near future.

The group of women pressuring Congress to visit New Orleans dubbed itself "Women of the Storm," and includes Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and Olivia Manning, mother of football starts Peyton and Eli.

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