Money that Congress set aside for New Orleans evacuation plan went instead to studying bridge

AP ^ | 9/17/05 | RITA BEAMISH

[newzjunkey]

Say it ain't so! I'm shocked.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Such information needs to get to whatever "investigative" committee is looking into the New Orleans issue.

[evad]

Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., said Witt's concerns have some merit and are worth considering. "Taxpayers cannot continue to support something that doesn't make financial sense on either side," Landrieu said

Coming from a dim, that had to hurt.

I'm surprised that when she uttered those words she didn't turn into a pillar of salt.

[linkinpunk]

So Rove's plan for the destruction of New Orleans started in 1997, when Bush was governor of Texas?

Wow. He IS powerful.

[ApplegateRanch]

"In general it was an overview of all the things we need to do" for the causeway through 2016.

Did it include a section on rebuilding it after being destroyed by a storm in 2005?

[hoosiermama]

LOL...Good one!

[John Jorsett]

And this is where we're sending $200 billion? They must be licking their chops down there.

[nmh]

Gotta get those tourists in and out for decadent entertainment.

[leadpencil1]

Money that Congress set aside for New Orleans evacuation plan went instead to studying bridge

People down there sure know how to bid a hand with their partner.

[goresalooza]

So NOW we know why the inept Gov Blanco needed "24 more hours" to figure out what to do with NOLA prior to Katrina making landfall. She and former FEMA director James Lee Witt were shredding documents all night and/or plotting money coverup in the Big Easy. And then she suddenly "hires him" ???? How stupid does she think the public is? God help those poor souls in LA who have to suffer the abject FAILURE of the governor and her lackeys. God help us all. Someone somewhere throw this woman in jail!

[ForGod'sSake]

.

[upcountryhorseman]

State and local governments have primary responsiblity
for disaster responce (all democrats). The feds enter the picture only when asked by the locals, according to law.

[ridesthemiles]

I just love the outcome of 'analysis paralysis'.

[reg45]

If the money was set aside in 1997 and not properly spent by the state government, it must be Bill Clinton's fault.

[SauronOfMordor]

And 8 years ago, when all this money was misused at the state level, who was the State Treasurer? Could it have happened during Mary Landrieu's term from 1988 to 1996?

[Redbob]

Reardless of what FEMA did or did not do, the responsibility for developing and implementing an evacuation plan for New Orleans belongs to...

New Orleans!

[meyer]

And 8 years ago, when all this money was misused at the state level, who was the State Treasurer? Could it have happened during Mary Landrieu's term from 1988 to 1996?

The plot thickens some more. Very interesting piece of information.

[jackliberty]

Every level of the state, from local (New Orleans), to provincial (Louisiana), to national (FEMA) was FUBAR in their response to Katrina.

Your statement seems to reflect the prevailing wisdom of the moment. But nobody I've talked to in person has been able to point to any action taken by the feds that shouldn't have been taken or any action not taken that should have been.

Their first response (no pun intended) is always: They should have moved faster. But, when the Red Cross and Salvation Army (components of FEMA) were prepositioned and ready to bring in supplies, they were denied access to New Orleans by the governor. (As an aside, I saw one interview where a complainer was condemning the Red Cross because their volunteers wouldn't take supplies to the needy where they were being shot at.)

The most effective first responders seemed to be the Coast Guard when they were pulling people off of roof tops. They responded much more quickly and efficiently than the local and state authorities.The Coast Guard, of course, is a federal agency.

My understanding of FEMA's responsibilities are to coordinate local, state and federal resources in an emergency. When the local command structure is non-existant and the state authorities are not cooperating (fearing some credit might go to a Republican, IMHO) what specifically was FEMA supposed to do?

Just saw a post that stated Bush's poll numbers are dropping since his last speech. The Dems and MSM have been very successful in playing the race card, pinning blame for all that's wrong on the administration and, at the very least, admitting that "there's enough blame to go around." I think we should demand to be given specific examples of what federal responsibilities were not fulfilled.

Since my wife has pointed out to me over the past 38 years I could be wrong, I'll end with a request. Can anybody point out specific failures of the federal government? Especially with the thought of federalism in mind.

[hoosiermama]

Excellent piece of information.....IMO You've just connected another dot.

[American in Israel]

500 million dollars to STUDY a bridge? Remember when you could build something for a half a billion dollars? Now so many politicians are feeding off the "projects" that the projects never get done. At this rate it would cost the Government a few million dollars to park a portapotty.

[angelsonmyside]

"If the money was set aside in 1997 and not properly spent by the state government, it must be Bill Clinton's fault."


Well, speaking of....., his little buddy James Carville is from there. In fact he has very deep ties to LA.


Interesting.