Louisiana lawmaker savages Bush

On the final day of a Hurricane Katrina-related special legislative session, a Louisiana lawmaker launched a savage attack against President Bush and the Republican-led congress.

Senator D.A. "Butch" Gautreaux criticized the federal response to Katrina as slow and inadequate.

Gautreaux said he's worried about the failure so far of the federal government to help and its propensity to blame Gov. Kathleen Blanco and others in Louisiana for hurricane-related problems.

"The future of this state depends on funding from Congress and President Bush like it or not. It's true," Gautreaux said.

"I am worried that Louisiana's needs will be lost in the debate over the botched war in Iraq. I am worried that our needs will be lost as the Bush administration makes sure that the very richest Americans get a tax cut,"

Gautreaux went on to lambast Bush for using "faith and religion to divide and polarize this nation."

The Baton Rouge Advocate reports that Gautreaux, a Democrat, received a smattering of applause during his speech. Many Republican lawmakers walked out.