[StBernard] USA Today Endorses Governor Blanco's and LRA's Push to Waive Ten Percent Match

[Westley Annis]

That's ridiculous, the 10% waiver should have been automatic; I can't
believe the hold up.  MsSimms


> -----------------------------------------------------

> USA TODAY Endorses Governor Blanco's and LRA's Push to Waive Ten Percent

Match

> 

> Over recent weeks, several national and local editorial pages have called

on President Bush to waive Louisiana's federal cost share as the state
rebuilds from the first and third most catastrophic disasters in American
history. The cost share requirement was waived for New York following 9/11
and Florida after Hurricane Andrew. 

> 

> Editorial: Gulf Coast's halting recovery leaves much to be done

> USA TODAY

> March 2, 2007

> 

> "Louisiana has asked the federal government to waive a requirement that

local governments put up 10% of the cost of rebuilding public projects.
While the requirement is reasonable, many localities are broke, according to
the Louisiana Recovery Authority. Further, the 10% mandate has turned the
process into a bureaucratic quagmire. Bush could quickly waive it, or at
least work with local officials on a backup plan they've advanced to cut
through the red tape."

> 

> Read the full editorial here:

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2007/03/post_5.html
<http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2007/03/post_5.html> 

> 

> Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated South Louisiana, claiming 1,464

lives, destroying more than 200,000 homes and 18,000 businesses. The
Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) is the planning and coordinating body
that was created in the aftermath of these storms by Governor Kathleen
Babineaux Blanco to lead one of the most extensive rebuilding efforts in the
world. The LRA is a 33-member body which is coordinating across
jurisdictions, supporting community recovery and resurgence, ensuring
integrity and effectiveness, and planning for the recovery and rebuilding of
Louisiana.

> 

> ###