[StBernard] GOVERNOR BLANCO, LOCAL LEADERS TO CALL FOR FEDERAL ACTION TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR CRITICAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES]

[Westley Annis]

GOVERNOR BLANCO, LOCAL LEADERS TO CALL FOR FEDERAL ACTION TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR CRITICAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES

BATON ROUGE, LA--Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco will meet on Monday afternoon with local and parish officials from South Louisiana to discuss how the federal government can help local governments get back on their feet after hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The Governor will hold a press conference with a group of mayors, parish presidents, police jurors, sheriffs and other public safety personnel. The press conference and a subsequent meeting will take place in the Governor's Press Room on the 4th floor of the Louisiana Capitol at 2 p.m. on Monday, October 3.  Only the press conference will be open to the media.

At the press conference, Governor Blanco and local officials will discuss amending the Stafford Act to allow the federal government to pay the salaries of critical public safety and other local government employees.  

Governor Blanco has said that without federal assistance to pay for restoring critical public services, including law enforcement and public safety, the restoration of many local governments cannot begin.  On Thursday, at a meeting to discuss the restoration of Louisiana's economy, Governor Blanco discussed the issue with a group of business leaders:

"Part of getting our communities and our businesses up and running again is having our local governments providing basic services. Every community must have police and fire protection, sewage and water service.

"That's why I've asked President Bush and congressional leaders to change the rules of the Stafford Act. We need to allow federal aid money to cover more than overtime for public employees. 

"Our cities and parishes need to make payroll. They must pay the men and women who provide those basic services. Changing the Stafford Act will allow them to provide those basic services.

"I am asking Congress to make that change within a week. The funds are already available. Quick action is critical."

WHERE: 	Governor's Press Room, 4th Floor, State Capitol 

WHEN: 	Monday, October 3, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. 

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The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation (LDRF), Louisiana's fund for Louisiana's people, has been established by Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco in order to support long-term family restoration and recovery and help provide assistance to our citizens in need through a network of Louisiana charities and non-profit agencies.

877.HELPLA1 (877.435-7521)
www.louisianahelp.org

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