>>>Evidently, FEMA money couldn't be used in that manner.
From an article in USA Today
Blanco appealed to the Bush administration and to Congress to amend or suspend a U.S. law that prohibits the use of federal money to cover basic expenses of local governments, including the payrolls of public safety and health departments.
The law allows for federal funds to pay local overtime costs in some cases. But Blanco said several parishes won't have enough to cover payrolls because the storms wiped out commercial districts and neighborhoods that provided millions of dollars in property tax revenue. Much of that money helps to fund fire and police service.
I heard on the MSM report tonight that the remaining 50% of the phantom employees will do the work via overtime. The MSM reported that the 'overtime portion/costs' are covered by FEMA.
This layoff then must be mostly a bookkeeping trick where the remaining 50% phantom employees will have to 'bill' using overtime for two people, allowing NO to get half of their money via 'fast-trak' immediate FEMA payments rather than waiting for 100% Congressional funding - funding delays which has 'spawned' the little known local axiom "corruption delayed is Democrat politics frustrated" to be oft repeated around NO.
/sarcasm off