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Christopher Cox
Legislators urge FEMA inquiry over Miami-Dade payments

Florida lawmakers Tuesday called for state and federal investigations into how the government approved about $28 million in Hurricane Frances claims for new furniture, clothes and appliances for residents of Miami-Dade County, which was barely touched by the storm. The Federal Emergency Management Agency "made a lot of mistakes and wasted a lot of taxpayer money," said U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw, R-Fort Lauderdale. In a letter Tuesday, Shaw asked the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, to conduct a hearing. Committee spokesman Ken Johnson said Shaw raised "legitimate concerns," and that the panel's chairman, Christopher Cox, R-Calif., will...