Blanco: Lawmakers Upset Pet Projects Cut

Gov. Kathleen Blanco says black lawmakers are suing her because they are upset about losing $6 million allotted to their pet projects.

"That's a very small amount of money compared to the whole problem," Blanco said when asked about the lawsuit, which seeks to void budget cuts that close about half of a $1 billion state budget hole.

"Everybody is giving up a lot" in the aftermath of two devastating hurricanes, Blanco told reporters.

Before the storms, Blanco enjoyed good relations with black lawmakers and allowed them to keep the Urban Development Fund, which allots sums to black lawmakers for projects they choose.

Sen. Cleo Fields, for instance, has used the money to buy buses to transport the youthful members of his Louisiana Leadership Institute. He also took the buses to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to rescue stranded residents.

Critics have called the Urban Development Fund and a companion program for rural lawmakers slush funds. Defenders say the money helps people who fall through the cracks of other government programs.

Fields, D-Baton Rouge, and other members of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus sued Blanco on Wednesday. They say she exceeded her authority last week when she ordered $431 million worth of budget cuts without legislative approval.

Fields said the Legislature is charged with spending money and balancing the budget, and the governor has only limited power to adjust those amounts.

Asked about the lawsuit Thursday, Blanco said she thinks the "core" of the black lawmakers' anger is over her cutting from the budget the unspent $6 million in the Urban Development Fund.

She suggested they accept the sacrifice. Education, health and other programs also face cuts.

"Everybody is being asked to work harder with less resources," the governor said.

The governor has been calling for unity to face storm problems and a Congress whose money is needed to help the state recover.

Asked if the lawsuit threatens that unity, Blanco said it's the legislators prerogative to take legal action.

"Legislators, especially lawyer legislators, like to explore everything in the law," she said.

A hearing on the lawsuit is set for Nov. 18 before 19th Judicial District Judge Kay Bates.

I don't know. For all the protestations from LA black leaders that the Katrinas devastation was all George Bush's fault, in their heart of hearts, they know full well that it was in fact Blanco and Nagin that screwed up here and that won't be easy to overlook. Oh, they'll try...but I have my doubts. Besides, much of NO's black constituency is gone, having been relocated to friendlier, more competent states and have no intention of returning. We shall see.

The blame for part of this screw up has to start being placed on those who were too stupid to get out of the way. Many of those folks did have transportation and simply chose not to leave. They are the one's who kept electing the leaders they got stuck with during this crisis. Let's put some of the blame where it rightfully belongs.

The conservative part of the state, pretty much the rest of the state, has tried for years to get things done the right way. Yet those in NOLA who have been so used to getting everything given to them kept the state from making that progress because of their "voting patterns". If you will take note of who is trying to defeat the necessary budget cuts you will discover that they are in the Louisiana Black Caucus.

They are squealing loudly now because they can no longer influence the powers that be with their vote. They have lost too many folks to other regions of the country.

The conservative part of the state, pretty much the rest of the state, has tried for years to get things done the right way. Yet those in NOLA who have been so used to getting everything given to them kept the state from making that progress ...

Historically, New Orleans has occupied a privileged position in the hierarchy of Louisiana. Many laws were on the books, bestowing unique privileges, that began ... "A city with a population of 500 thousand people ...".

New Orleans was the only city in the state that had a population in excess of half a million people. I have often wondered if those laws were amended after the 1990 census when the population of New Orleans dropped below 500,000 people [496,938]. The population of New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit was estimated to have dropped to approximately 462,267. The current population of New Orleans cannot be estimated; however, it is expected to stabilize in the near term at approximately 250,000.

Traditionally, "they" [New Orleanians] have been xenophic. They have tended to have a snooty attitude toward the rest of the state which they perceived as being populated by less worthy individuals ... perhaps even "rubes", if you will, despite the fact that there are educated, cultured people all over Louisiana. The liberal population of New Orleans and the increasingly conservative rest of the state often tended to mix like oil and water.

Other cities and towns in Louisiana have had to absorb large numbers of New Orleanians. They are bound to be less than sympathetic to the needs of New Orleans while their own budgets are strapped by having to take care of its evacuees.

Pre-Hurricane population figures for the largest Louisiana cities:

New Orleans 484,674 [urbanized area 1,337,726];
Baton Rouge 227,818 [urbanized area 602,894];
Shreveport 200,145 [urbanized area 390,000].

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