Lawmakers vote to put levees in La.'s care

[Wordie]

Posted on Sat, Feb. 18, 2006
Lawmakers vote to put levees in La.'s care
DOUG SIMPSON and MELINDA DESLATTE
Associated Press

BATON ROUGE, La. - Lawmakers voted Friday to merge the levee boards of southeast Louisiana, hoping to ease concerns in Congress that the state lacks effective oversight of its flood-control system.

...Lawmakers compromised by creating two regional levee boards, one for the west bank of the river, the other for the east bank. Those boards would be overseen by flood-control experts with the Coastal Restoration and Protection Authority.

...Though not directly implicated in the failure of levees, the levee boards were seen as symbols of corruption and political patronage because legislators had a say in the appointments and several lawmakers had relatives and friends on the boards.

The reform plan includes restrictions on whether new board members may run for office or win contracts connected to levee work. The regional boards will be focused exclusively on flood protection and barred from other activities.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/13901139.htm

The article also briefly mentioned that consideration of a new housing plan, which would create the Louisiana Housing and Land Trust and direct billions in federal funds for home buyouts, loans and grants didn't pass, although it may be reconsidered later in the regular session of the legislature which starts in March. Opponents raised concerns about costs, additional bureaucracy, and how the plan would be integrated with existing NO redevelopment plans.

[ixion]

1. it's tragically ironic how they fret about 'effective oversight' now

that the damage is done.

:grr:

[Wordie]

2. Yes...

especially since there were so many warnings before the hurricanes struck.

Still, this appears to be a step in the right direction for the future. There will be a new hurricane season, and the predictions I've read are that it will be even worse than last year's. :(

So, preparing is a good thing to do, even if it's belated.