Posted on 12/16/2005 8:51:51 AM PST by kellynla
The White House yesterday agreed to spend $1.5 billion to strengthen levees in New Orleans, although it stopped short of saying the levees will be able to withstand a Cat egory 5 hurricane.
"The levee system will be better and safer than it's ever been before," said Donald Powell, the administration's reconstruction czar. "The federal government is committed to building the best levee system known in the world."
Mr. Powell made the announcement at the White House after meeting with President Bush, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin and Lt. Gen. Carl Strock, head of the Army Corps of Engineers.
"We understand that the people of New Orleans need to be assured that they're going to be safe when they get back home, that their city has an infrastructure that is capable of sustaining a possible storm next season or in the seasons afterward," Mr. Chertoff said.
He said the administration has spent $5.2 billion to help the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
But the additional $1.5 billion to strengthen levees did not satisfy Sen. Mary L. Landrieu, Louisiana Democrat.
"The White House still doesn't grasp the magnitude of this disaster," she told CNN. "Speaking only of the city of New Orleans -- and leaving out the Parish of Jefferson, the Parish of Plaquemine, the Parish of St. Bernard -- I don't think that's what the people of our region want."
But Mr. Nagin thanked the president and U.S. taxpayers for the money and urged displaced residents to return home.
"It's time for you to come back to the Big Easy," the mayor said. "This action today says come home to New Orleans."
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
MOVE THE CITY TO HIGHER GROUND!
The Feds had better not let one dime of the money go to the local political establishment. That's that most crooked bunch of polititians that I have ever personally witnessed.
Shouldn't they find out how many people are going back before we go to this expense?
You know, it's unacceptable to me that republican "statesmanship" includes letting scumbags like Blanco get away with murder. She and Mike McCurry should be denounced as murderers on every news show, and it will never happen. But the blood is still on their hands.
Sorry, but I'm afraid it's already done. As long as Bush is passing out the candy I doubt there will be any control over who gets to spend the money.
"Shouldn't they find out how many people are going back before we go to this expense?" I'm so embarassed to live here sometimes.
No, No, No... Mary Landrieu just wants them to send the money and stay out of it.
What the hey - it's ONLY TAXPAYERS' HARD EARNED MONEY being thrown down the rathole!!!
Easy come, easy go...
"Shouldn't they find out how many people are going back before we go to this expense?"
NO, we shouldn't be spending another dime on the levees!
We should be moving the friggin' city to higher ground!
and while I'm here, isn't it laughable that Nagin wants folks to move back to N'awlins while he's moved his family to DALLAS!
Mary need the levees fixed so that the democrat voting poor folk will come back and re-elect her worthless a$$. As it stands, the only people left are self-sufficient right wingers with lots of guns.
Three terrorists in scuba dropped off an incoming ship could blow holes and flood the entire city again. This time it could be at night when everyone was asleep and drown thousands.
Billions for corrupt LA democrats to recreate their vote-rich underwater ghetto.
The levees will never sustain a CAT 5 hurricane. You cannot place a levy on SAND...
If anyone wants to rebuild, o.k. But be warned, I will not pay for more stupidity.
Two billion for new levees is an urgent expense. Eight billion for fence on Southern border is an unacceptably high expenditure. Am I missing something?
BUT...let the Dutch come in and supervise.
Who do you think is going to rebuild the levees, Americans? :)
"Save Our Wetlands" will surely find a liberal federal judge to halt all operations!
W has been passing out the candy for years. He makes LBJ look like a conservative.
We didn't have a whole lot of options, as I recall. Personally, I can stomach the spending as long as he keeps killing jihadi's, signing pro-gun legislation, and keeps putting up Alitos and Roberts' type judges.
Isn't Newt the only one in the heat for next round that will actually curtail a little spending?
It is rediculous to rebuild a city that has been destroyed because it is below sea level. There will be another hurricane. There will be another breach. If you want to rebuild NO, blow the levee and then build along the new shore line. This whole thing smells like a bunch of greedy developers using Government money to finance their next big project.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.