GAO Looking Into Faulty N.O. Pumps (AP)

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

GAO Looking Into Faulty N.O. Pumps


Thursday March 29, 2007 12:01 AM

By CAIN BURDEAU

Associated Press Writer

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Government Accountability Office investigators
are meeting with Army Corps of Engineers officials to ask questions
about drainage pumps that were installed before last year's hurricane
season even though they apparently were defective.

The pumps were produced by a Florida company under a $26.6 million
contract awarded after Hurricane Katrina. They provide flood protection
by draining water from this largely below sea level city.

-snip-

Anu Mittal, the GAO's director for water resources, said a large team of
investigators has been assembled to “expeditiously” satisfy a request by
U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu.

Landrieu, D-La., has asked the GAO, Congress' investigative and auditing
arm, to investigate if there was improper influence in the way the pumps
contract was awarded and handled. She also wants to know what danger
the pumps posed to New Orleans, and the Corps' rationale for installing
them.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6515951,00.html

[youngdem]

1. Key line confirming all you needed to know to confirm what you already suspected

"The pumps were manufactured by Moving Water Industries Corp., a Deerfield Beach, Fla., company owned by J. David Eller and his sons. Eller was once a business partner of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in a venture called Bush-El that marketed MWI pumps."


A cynic would say they are continuing to try to drown us.

[KingofNewOrleans]

2. They aren't trying to drown us

Whether we drown or not is incidental. They are trying to make the most amount of money possible.
Anything else is secondary.

[youngdem]

3. True dat.

[Suich]

4. Yup.

The pumps are a joke.