landriau and vitters bill, Pelican, requests an astounding dollar figure to rework the louisiana gulf coast:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/25/AR2005092501413_pf.html
there are many good parts to this bill but some important things missing. i'm no expert but one hears over and over that the levees themselves are causing new orleans to sink and that reconstruction of the barrier islands, bringing back the wetlands, is critical.
the working committee was composed of a two from the scientific community and many lobbyists who work for companies who operate along the coast.
i'm not saying there's anything amiss with their requests to improve ports etc, but it would be good to know that more citizens interests were represented.
it is a high powered committee charged with a complex task, but the balance on the committee seems askew.
one request i wholeheartedly agree with, which if passed will partially fund the work, is that the state of louisiana receive one half of the revenues from the oil and gas off shore industry. these revenues normally go into the federal coffer.
as it stands now, louisiana receives nothing.
something which is not in the bill and it seems should be, is the closing of the canal from the mississippi river which some think was a direct channel for water into new orleans.
are there environmentalists here who will post views?
the need for close attention is not over for new orleans and i think if we don't pay attention, foxes may raid the chicken coop.
by the way, in my view, the democrat party should send people to work with mayor ray nagin in order to help with media, etc. democrats are going to have to hold a line here.
i don't have much time this morning, but this is important to keep in the public eye.
please recommend if you agree.