CNN report on last year's hurricane disaster drill in N.O.

[Kevin Bowman]

"so isn't it about time to stop passing the buck?"

I agree! The levee issue is PRIMARILY an impact on New Orleans... So why should my tax dollars be going there? Sure I can pay a part, but that should be handled by the people impacted the most.

Interesting...I have the feeling that many people (especially those in New Orleans) are asking about why their tax dollars are going into Iraq instead.

Wonder if New Orleans and southern Louisiana will have any future interest in refining gasoline and pumping it through their pipelines to people in other states if those people don't think its a national problem (they could charge a surtax on other state consumers to help finance the project, but for some reason, the Feds won't let them exercise 'States rights' in that way....something called interestate commerce).

Louisiana could do that but other states could stop using their ports and not go there to visit among other things that would break the economy of the state.

 

[Jeff Snyder]

Stop it.

 

[Anonymous]

[Well just so you know, a 14 billion dollar plan was killed in 1998 when Clinton was President.

It wouldve fixed all the problems

Fox News reported this along with the Army Corp of engineres

Doesn't seem to jive with the following:

http://www.hq.usace.army.mil/cepa/releases...1997/budget.htm

.
President Clinton's FY 98 Civil Works
Budget proposes $3.8 Billion Program
Washington, DC (Feb. 6) -- President Clinton's budget transmitted to Congress today includes a $3.8 billion U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works program and begins a change in budgeting for water resources projects. The program will require appropriations in the amount of $3.69 billion, the remainder will be financed from non-Federal contributions and trust fund receipts.

H. Martin Lancaster, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works said he was "especially pleased with the Administration's support of a steady funding level for the Civil Works program through FY 2002 which allows the Corps to continue its historical role as a problem solver for the Nation. This includes future investments in new infrastructure and environmental restoration projects at a total Federal cost of $365,250,000 in FY 1998 and new investments of approximately $200 million annually thereafter. This budget also reflects the Administration's commitment to balance the budget."

Consistent with the government-wide initiative to provide full funding for Federal investments in fixed assets, this budget proposes a transition from annual incremental funding of all project construction requirements to full funding of those requirements.

"We believe that full funding will improve our ability and that of local project sponsors to manage and complete projects and will reiterate the Federal government's commitment to these important projects. We will have funds available on a predictable schedule, either up-front or through advance appropriations in the years leading to project completion," Lt. Gen. Joe N. Ballard, Chief of Engineers, said. "This means that the benefits of our work are provided to the taxpayer more efficiently.


You have to read between the lines when watching FOX. Saying it was killed during the Clinton years doesn't necessarily mean it was Clinton who killed it. If Clinton proposed funding to the satisfaction of the Corps of Engineers (although I'm not sure yet whether it was to the satisfaction of local officials in New Orleans) and it was killed by Congress, then try not to blame Clinton (OK?)