Bush: Recovery will take years: Katrina victims skeptical of promises of help

BILOXI, Miss. -- President Bush said Monday the huge job ofrebuilding from Hurricane Katrina was just beginning a year after themassive storm but expressed hope that the $110 billion sent fromWashington would be enough.

Trying to erase the black mark left on his presidency by theadministration's sluggish response to Katrina, Bush returned to thefirst scene he saw a year ago of the storm's devastation.

Standing in a neighborhood where gutted buildings sit next tonewly built homes, Bush pledged the federal government would standwith the region as it rebuilds.

It's a promise viewed with skepticism by victims still reelingfrom the storm.

"A year ago, I committed our federal government to help you," Bushsaid. "I said, 'We have a duty to help the local people recover andrebuild,' and I meant what I said."

Of the $110 billion in hurricane aid approved by Congress, $44billion has been spent. Overall, the administration has released $77billion to the states, reserving the rest for future needs.

MUCH SLOWER RECOVERY IN LA.

Bush focused on the positive but acknowledged that much remains tobe done.

"It's an anniversary, but it's not an end," he said. "Frankly it'sjust the beginning."

Asked how long the rebuilding would take, Bush said: "I would sayyears, not months. On the other hand, the progress in one year's timehas been remarkable."

The welcome Bush received here was warmer than the one he isexpected to get today -- the actual anniversary of Katrina -- inLouisiana, where recovery efforts have moved much more slowly.

Nationwide polls give Bush low marks on Katrina. An AP-Ipsos pollearlier this month showed 67 percent disapproved of his handling ofthe disaster.

With Hurricane Ernesto bearing down on Florida, Democrats havebeen coordinating a political assault on the Bush administration'sKatrina response, hoping to sway voters in the upcoming congressionalelections.

House Democrats on Monday toured devastated areas of New Orleansand decried the slow pace of recovery. "I think the American publicis going to be very, very surprised to know this recovery is way, waybehind what their expectations would have been," Rep. James Clyburn(D-S.C.) said.