Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Screw Science...Screw Poor People...Screw America

Yes, Republican policies made things worse in New Orleans. Both the systematic gutting of environmental policy and devastating budget cuts aimed at eliminating crucial engineering projects in the New Orleans area.

Some bloggers suggest that now is not a time for partisan attacks. My answer to that is bullshit! Sure I can post the Red Cross link here, but that won't help the victims on the next killer storm as much as tossing the Republicans out of office will.

If you don't think that Bush policies and decision are part of the problem, read this about the systematic under funding of critical flood control projects in
Louisiana.

The $750 million
Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity Hurricane Protection project is another major Corps project, which remains about 20% incomplete due to lack of funds, said Al Naomi, project manager. That project consists of building up levees and protection for pumping stations on the east bank of the Mississippi River in Orleans, St. Bernard, St. Charles and Jefferson parishes.

The district has identified $35 million in projects to build and improve levees, floodwalls and pumping stations in St. Bernard,
Orleans, Jefferson and St. Charles parishes. Those projects are included in a Corps line item called Lake Pontchartrain, where funding is scheduled to be cut from $5.7 million this year to $2.9 million in 2006. Naomi said it's enough to pay salaries but little else."

Yeah, let's give George Bush and his pals a free pass on this one, too.