[StBernard] LA Times, USA Today Cite LRA Research in Asking Administration to Waive Federal Match

[Westley Annis]

Louisiana Recovery Authority <http://www.lra.louisiana.gov> 	 
Los Angeles Times, USA Today Cite LRA Research in Calling on Bush Administration to Cut Red Tape, Waive Federal Match for Rebuilding 


One of the LRA's key functions is to secure funding and other resources for the rebuilding of South Louisiana. Over recent weeks and months and at the urging of the LRA, several national and local editorial pages have called on President Bush to waive Louisiana's federal cost share and eliminate red tape 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 for Florida after Hurricane Andrew. 

In its Sunday editorial, the Los Angeles Times called for waiving the federal match requirement and eliminating needless federal paperwork, a cause which LRA board members have promoted numerous times in Congressional testimony in Washington. According to the editorial, "Doubling the regulatory burden not only creates pointless busywork, it runs counter to Bush's political philoso! phy. The administration should require Louisiana to spend the aid wisely, but that goal isn't served by tying the money in red tape." 

*	To read the full editorial, click here <http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-katrina28apr28,0,6871030.story?coll=la-opinion-leftrail> .

USA Today, also urged the administration to eliminate any duplicate requirements by highlighting the difficulties faced by officials trying to rebuild Peebles Elementary School in Iberia Parish. "It's long past time to substitute creativity for the intransigence that has stalled projects such as Iberia Parish's school. The president should demonstrate how that's done by slashing through the federal red tape, or empowering people who can do it for him," the editorial said. 

*	To read the full editorial, click here <http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2007/04/our_view_on_hur.html#more> .

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.


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