Bill Clinton on Hastert: "I'm afraid I would have assaulted him."

The top Republican in the House and my congressman J. Dennis Hastert was AWOL during vote when Congress approved a $10.5 billion measure to provide relief to the disaster victims.

He hadn't planned to return at all even as Congress approved a $10.5 billion measure to provide relief to the disaster victims. And he didn't make it back in time to participate in the floor debate.

But faced with angry complaints from Louisiana politicians, Hastert came back to sign the bill before sending it to the White House for President Bush's signature.

He had more important things to do, like fundraise for Republican Rep. Mark Souder in Indiana.

Hastert had spent the day at a fundraiser for Republican Rep. Mark Souder in Indiana and at a car show where he sold his 1970s vintage Lincoln Mark II Continental, which went for about $50,000, an aide said. The speaker told reporters he would contribute the money to relief efforts.

That a start, donating Souder money. But, I have a better idea. How about funding Homeland Security to help disaster victims rather passing more taxes cuts.

If President Clinton was close to Dennis Hastert during this anti-New Orleans remarks, a fight would have broke out.

In Syracuse, N.Y., former president Bill Clinton was discussing New Orleans's dilemma when someone described the speaker's comments. Had they been in the same place when the remarks were made, Clinton said, "I'm afraid I would have assaulted him."

Indeed.