[StBernard] Governor Blanco, Local Leaders urge federal action to provide funds for critical local government needs

[Westley Annis]

Governor Blanco, Local Leaders urge federal action to provide funds for
critical local government needs 

BATON ROUGE, LA-Standing with local government officials, police and fire
fighters whose towns and cities were devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita, Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco urged the White House and Congress
to take action and help cities pay for critical services like law
enforcement and fire protection.  

"Right now the tax base of many local governments has been destroyed or
crippled," said Governor Blanco. "Many of our cities and parishes cannot
make payroll. And that means that these vital services will not be available
to our citizens until we get these local governments adequate resources." 

Currently, the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
reimburses local municipalities and parishes for overtime costs directly
related to providing emergency services.  FEMA will reimburse 100% of this
cost until the end of October when the cost share waiver expires.

This afternoon in a press conference at the Louisiana State Capitol,
Governor Blanco and the leaders from the affected areas, who discussed the
critical needs in their communities, say the change is urgent as the state
continues to recover from the worst natural disaster in U.S. history.  

"Until our local governments are up and running, I'm asking the federal
government to help pay the regular-time salaries of these essential public
employees," said Governor Blanco.  

Reiterating her September 23 letter to President Bush, Governor Blanco
called on the President to change the regulations regarding how the federal
government pays for critical services of local governments in the hurricane
zone. She also urged the president to have the change applied retroactively
to the original date of the federal declaration of emergency.  

Click here to view the text of Governor Blanco's comments from today's press
conference:  
http://www.gov.state.la.us/Speeches_detail.asp?id=135  

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