http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2005/09/25/AR2005092501413_pf.html

Louisiana's congressional delegation has requested $40 billion for Army
Corps of Engineers projects in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, about 10
times the annual Corps budget for the entire nation, or 16 times the
amount the Corps has said it would need to protect New Orleans from a
Category 5 hurricane.

Louisiana Sens. David Vitter (R) and Mary Landrieu (D) tucked the
request into their $250 billion Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief and
Economic Recovery Act, the state's opening salvo in the scramble for
federal dollars.

The bill, unveiled last week, would create a powerful "Pelican
Commission" controlled by Louisiana residents that would decide which
Corps projects to fund, and ordered the commission to consider several
controversial navigation projects that have nothing to do with flood
protection. The Corps section of the Louisiana bill, which was supported
by the entire state delegation, was based on recommendations from a
"working group" dominated by lobbyists for ports, shipping firms, energy
companies and other corporate interests.

The bill would exempt any Corps projects approved by the commission from
provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Clean Water
Act. It would also waive the usual Corps cost-sharing requirements,
ensuring that federal taxpayers would pay every dime.

With the public eager to help Katrina's victims, President Bush and
Congress have already approved $62.3 billion in spending for the Gulf
Coast. But some budget hawks are grumbling about the impact on the
deficit; the Louisiana delegation's $250 billion bill would cost more
than the Louisiana Purchase under the Jefferson administration on an
inflation-adjusted basis. Some critics of federal water projects said
the $40 billion Corps request could make the delegation look especially
greedy and undermine support for the state's reconstruction plans.

Vitter and Landrieu have described their bill as a starting point for
congressional deliberations, but one GOP Senate aide said they should
not expect to get their entire wish list, voicing particular skepticism
of the funding for the Corps. Even before Katrina, Louisiana received
more Corps funding than any other state, and that was less than $400
million a year.

The overall Corps budget for fiscal 2005 was $4 billion, and Corps
officials have estimated that they could upgrade the New Orleans flood
protection system to defend against a Category 5 storm for about $2.5
billion.

"This bill boggles the mind," said Steve Ellis, a water resources expert
at Taxpayers for Common Sense. "Brazen doesn't begin to describe it. The
Louisiana delegation is using Katrina as an excuse to resurrect a
laundry list of pork projects."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2005/09/25/AR2005092501413_pf.html

Louisiana's congressional delegation has requested $40 billion for Army
Corps of Engineers projects

Vitter and Landrieu have described their bill as a starting point for
congressional deliberations

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2005/09/25/AR2005092501413_pf.html

Louisiana's congressional delegation has requested $40 billion for Army
Corps of Engineers projects in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, about 10
times the annual Corps budget for the entire nation, or 16 times the
amount the Corps has said it would need to protect New Orleans from a
Category 5 hurricane.

Louisiana Sens. David Vitter (R) and Mary Landrieu (D) tucked the
request into their $250 billion Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief and
Economic Recovery Act, the state's opening salvo in the scramble for
federal dollars.

The bill, unveiled last week, would create a powerful "Pelican
Commission" controlled by Louisiana residents that would decide which
Corps projects to fund, and ordered the commission to consider several
controversial navigation projects that have nothing to do with flood
protection. The Corps section of the Louisiana bill, which was supported
by the entire state delegation, was based on recommendations from a
"working group" dominated by lobbyists for ports, shipping firms, energy
companies and other corporate interests.

The bill would exempt any Corps projects approved by the commission from
provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Clean Water
Act. It would also waive the usual Corps cost-sharing requirements,
ensuring that federal taxpayers would pay every dime.

With the public eager to help Katrina's victims, President Bush and
Congress have already approved $62.3 billion in spending for the Gulf
Coast. But some budget hawks are grumbling about the impact on the
deficit; the Louisiana delegation's $250 billion bill would cost more
than the Louisiana Purchase under the Jefferson administration on an
inflation-adjusted basis. Some critics of federal water projects said
the $40 billion Corps request could make the delegation look especially
greedy and undermine support for the state's reconstruction plans.

Vitter and Landrieu have described their bill as a starting point for
congressional deliberations, but one GOP Senate aide said they should
not expect to get their entire wish list, voicing particular skepticism
of the funding for the Corps. Even before Katrina, Louisiana received
more Corps funding than any other state, and that was less than $400
million a year.

The overall Corps budget for fiscal 2005 was $4 billion, and Corps
officials have estimated that they could upgrade the New Orleans flood
protection system to defend against a Category 5 storm for about $2.5
billion.

"This bill boggles the mind," said Steve Ellis, a water resources expert
at Taxpayers for Common Sense. "Brazen doesn't begin to describe it. The
Louisiana delegation is using Katrina as an excuse to resurrect a
laundry list of pork projects."