Posted by Jakeman on September 3, 2005, at 1:02:57 [reposted on September 3, 2005, at 8:59:11 | original URL]
In reply to What IS needed down South.., posted by jay on September 3, 2005, at 0:00:43
Here's an excerpt from an article in today's Washington Post:
By Jim VandeHei and Peter Baker
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, September 2, 2005; Page A16Critics Say Bush Undercut New Orleans Flood Control
President Bush repeatedly requested less money for programs to guard against catastrophic storms in New Orleans than many federal and state officials requested, decisions that are triggering a partisan debate over administration priorities at a time when the budget is strained by the Iraq war.
In recent years, Bush repeatedly sought to slice the Army Corps of Engineers' funding requests to improve the levees holding back Lake Pontchartrain, which Katrina smashed through, flooding New Orleans. In 2005, Bush asked for $3.9 million, a small fraction of the request the corps made in internal administration deliberations. Under pressure from Congress, Bush ultimately agreed to spend $5.7 million. Since coming to office, Bush has essentially frozen spending on the Corps of Engineers, which is responsible for protecting the coastlines, waterways and other areas susceptible to natural disaster, at around $4.7 billion.
poster:Jakeman
thread:550295
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20050728/msgs/550296.html