With United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., on Monday announcing that she will chair a hearing on May 24 to investigate a potential budget shortfall in the State of Louisiana’s “Road Home” housing program, the question becomes what can be accomplished?
The answer?Plenty as in mucho.
For the record, I called for a federal hearing on this issue when the controversy broke.There is no other vehicle to get to the whole truth on some burning issues affecting the future and credibility of Louisiana.
Why such a federal case?There’s the future.We need to know who pays the bill, and how much.
There’s also the past.Why did we get ourselves into this hole in the first place and yes, who’s to blame which we need to know for economic and practical reasons.
If you read between the lines, Landrieu is accepting no responsibility in this mess and quite frankly, I don’t blame her one bit for distancing herself.She says in her press release, “The Road Home program was developed after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita by Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) in negotiations with the White House and Gulf Coast Recovery Coordinator, Don Powell. She cites media reports of shortfalls of approximately three billion dollars.
Then in the press statement, Landrieu gives us a list of some of her witnesses--representatives of the Governor, LRA, Bush Administration and ICF, the contractor tasked with managing the program, will all be asked to testify at the hearing.
Then, comes the slammer:Her release states, “Responsibility for the Road Home deficit falls on many levels,” said Sen. Landrieu, who with Congressman Richard Baker, R-La., had proposed an alternative housing and rebuilding program. “The Administration opposed the funds necessary for the Road Home program to be whole at its inception, and mistakes were clearly made both in how the program was crafted and in how it was later managed.
“All those involved must be held accountable for their decisions so that we may learn from them and craft a way forward that does not repeat the same mistakes.”
Wow!Military Mary is fighting mad.And, yes, she should be and she is right.
During this hearing, I want to know:
Why did President Bush refuse the Baker Plan that was roundly accepted by almost everyone?
Exactly what role did Don Powell play?He was supposed to be an honest broker but, he has lately become President Bush’s main apologizer.
What roles did other Louisiana delegation members play in choosing or backing the current housing grant approach instead of the Baker bill?
Why was the housing plan so pitifully under-funded, especially, considering that Louisiana had four times the damage of its neighbor Mississippi?
Why did ICF International get the main contracting job in the first place?Who were they?Why did the administration allow a company run a project after they recused themselves after helping to build the specs?For the record, ICF did win approval of the Ethics Board in a ethics contest.
Why did HUD take a year to suddenly claim the Road Home program was not following the HUD rules?
Ultimately, Louisiana and America must learn from this experience.The experience reeks with incompetence from top to bottom.We’re looking at billions worth of errors and we need to know who did what, when and how.This state and country must never repeat these errors again.It is time to take off the sheath and use the knife.Heads should roll and ultimately some people should never be administrators of projects and of government agencies.
We owe accountability to our state to the American people.More importantly, we must fix the problems regardless as to party affiliation or as to power.
A congressional hearing in too long in coming. There are a lot of questions about ICF and their handling of the process including but not limited to the fact that so many homeowners have had their homes undervalued for purposes of providing grants. Also, that the flood insurance was deducted with no regard for the fact that those monies were not a "grant" but paid for. At least the premiums since the last flood should have been deducted. It seems the agenda focused on denying funds rather than providing funds. This raises another question...what happened to the $10 BILLION?????
Written by Ron Chapman
on 5/10/2007
The Bush Administration turned down the Baker bill, if I remember correctly, because Bush said that his Administration shouldn't be in the real estate business, and be buying up property and selling it after the storm. Steve, I think there are so many unanswered questions about the ICF foulup, that a federal hearing on what happened, and why, is long overdue, and the more parties Sen. Landrieu can subpoena and force to testify, the better. The state legislature's hearing was eye-opening. The federal hearing should be a wakeup call. Instead of having it in Washington, DC, it should be in the greater New Orleans area, where so many people have gotten hurt, first by Katrina, and then by the (so-called) Road Home program.
Written by Wendy King
on 5/9/2007
Sal, how many homes were damaged in New Orleans vs. SW Louisiana, SE Texas and the Mississippi Gulf Coast? Do you even know? I've posted FEMA's numbers here somewhere, so you could look it up. Do you even realize how much more property damage there was in Metro New Orleans vs. any of the areas you mention? It was the biggest city hit, by far. I know conservatives don't like data and facts, but do us all a favor and look it up before you spew your idiotic venom all over the place. Why do I have to keep harping on the same thing over and over and over again? It's because you friggin' conservatives are the stupidest &*^$*&*$ people on the planet. Jesus, you all are as dumb as rocks. Des fois je me demande quoi faire je lis ces pages.
Written by TW
on 5/8/2007
Thanks Sharon for responding to this bull that Steve has provided us. I'll only add how Steve promotes Katrina Mary and Blanco, blasts Bush and then says that we must fix the problem regardless of political party. Its just too funny. Is it any wonder New Orleans will never recover.
Written by Bill
on 5/8/2007
I am hearby requesting a Federal Probe into why Steve keeps writing such drival and continues to pander to Katrina Mary. Also, we must investigate why Steve continues to try and point blame again and again and again.
Written by Sid
on 5/8/2007
The real question is...why can't Louisiana handle the roads home...letting Moon's girl chair the committee? The blame falls squarely on the Gov...and Moon's girl. I realize that Stephen can't be honest and place the blame on those state officials and citizens. I can't imagine the sheer pressure he feels to follow the dem-lib talking points. The solution is painfully apparent...no one in Louisana can handle such a large task in the rebuilding. It is time for the feds to step in (and just with money) to take complete control of this awesome project. After all, all I have heard was that the feds should pay for it. Therefore it is necessary to have a federal overseer to assure that funding is going to where it is earmarked. Sorry...but even the most left-loons can realize that...so it goes.
Written by LT
on 5/8/2007
Hey Sid: Steve is like the left wingers. Just assign blame, but offer no solutions.
Written by Bill
on 5/8/2007
Man, you rightards are like fire ants. Someone steps in your ant hill (i.e., writes something you don't like) and suddenly you're crawling up his legs stinging the begeezus out of him. And the same tired arguments over and over and over again... just like little tiny ant stings.
Written by TW
on 5/8/2007
Suggest a couple more questions for your list,Steve" When and why did this program change from Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco's Road Home to being simply Federal Resposibility"
Who was the brains behind a notice running in Times Picayune imploring people to register for grants EVEN IF THEY HAD FULL INSURANCE,EVEN IF THEY HAD ALL REPAIRS DONE!Reminds me of "Check with me before you accept that cheque". Did anyone do some simple math at the Project Meetings for a task valued in billions and administration fee running into hundreds of millions?
Written by Suman
on 5/8/2007
The same arguements will be repeated again and again until there is someone in Louisiana that shows that she or he are compentent. When all we hear is shortfalls...high administrative costs...from the road home program. It boggles the mind of the amount of sheer waste going on in the state. I do feel for most of the folks trying to start over...given the lack of state leadership.
Written by LT
on 5/8/2007
Oh Pleeze. Military Mary? She voted for a bill for funding the military (regardless of whether you are for the war or not we have boots on the ground) knowing that President Bush would veto it. The Bush Administration said at the time that it did not necessarily have a problem with the cost of the Baker Bill but had concerns about the process for funding. Transparancy and whether or not it should go through the Appropriations process. Not like any of the money was mispent, mismanaged, or any fraud took place, right? The Democrats during the election promised to take up the bill again when they came to power. What a perfect chance to send a stand alone bill for Louisiana to the floor? Mary Landrieu should be front and center on getting a stand alone bill. That is what she should be fighting for. Her statement puts the blame on GWB (now that is new for her) and the company chosen to distribute the money. What about Blanco? What about the fact that Louisiana provided the figures? Sounds like she is asking for a "blank check". Everyone is always talking about wasting taxpayer money that could be used for recovery instead. This is a perfect example. More committees and hearings over stuff that has been committeed and heard over and over again. A total waste of taxpayer money and time. Mary Landrieu et all should be putting a stand alone bill together and getting support for it. The Blame Game Pity Party has to end some day. Why not today?
Written by Sharon
on 5/8/2007
Sal, You are exactly right. Looks like the "Silent Majority" is out in force today. Be prepared. Your post will probably get you called a few names by certain posters. It is not PC to point out the lack of personal responsiblity of the citizens. They are victims of society or you are a racist. Never mind that we are talking about a mindset not a race. It is not the gun that kills; it is the person pulling the trigger. It is not the car that causes the wreck; it is the driver. Too much common sense for some.
Written by Sharon
on 5/8/2007
Hey Sal: See what Sharon and I have been putting up with.
Written by Bill
on 5/8/2007
Bill, as always, quick with the snarky comment, but still 100% fact-free!
Written by TW
on 5/8/2007
One more thing, before I go. Here's Sal: "No one mentions the number of people from New Orleans who had moved to other parts of the state with better paying jobs, one of whom I know first hand, and still picked up checks in the amount of nearly $6,000.00. As a physical therapist, he was earning $74,000.00 per year in Jeff Davis Parish within two weeks of moving, but never mentioned that while accepting checks from insurance companies and the federal government. I heard it straight from the source as he bragged about it in the locker room of one of the finest health clubs in the south." Ah, that most utile weapon in the conservative arsenal - the personal anecdote! Who needs data when we can tell a quasi-poignant cryptic story?
Written by TW
on 5/8/2007
Forgive TW...this person suffers from "poor me syndrome". Pity him.
Written by LT
on 5/8/2007
Hey Bill – what are you “putting up with” … and why? Let’s face it, you and Sal and Sid spend a lot of time on this web site. You blethering old twits have a lot of time on your hands, which is obvious because you just sit around on your backsides posting one venomous comment after another. Bone idle, that is. The publisher and the people who write for this web site provide valuable information, opinions and an opportunity for people like you to engage in meaningful debate. So the question remains, what are you “putting up with”? Learn some personal responsibility. Get a life. Get your own web site. Get a blog. Go soil your own nest for a change.
Written by Voice of Reason
on 5/8/2007
Good call, Steve. There is definitely a need for a federal hearing on Road Home and the consistent under-funding of Louisiana’s recovery. Richard Baker and Mary Landrieu were model bipartisan leaders while lobbying for the Baker Bill. President Bush and the Republican-controlled US Congress failed the state by rejecting it – apparently because they didn’t want federal disaster relief to be federally administered! It’s hard to imagine a more bungled and indifferent response to the worst disaster in US history. Yes, there has been “incompetence from top to bottom”. But, as with any other matter of critical national importance, I believe the buck stops at the top.
Written by Voice of Reason
on 5/8/2007
Suppose Miss. had gotten twice the money they did, or half the money they did. How would either amount of money awarded to Miss. prevent La. from figuring out it, La., was short of cash? Let's go with the theory that Gov. Blanco figured it out far enough back to alert Sen. Landrieu. When were either one of them planning on telling any of the rest of us about the shortfall? Why didn't somebody ask for a rider on some bill to get the shortfall backfilled? Or lateral some La. surplus into the Road Home kitty? Anybody want to bet this little Senate hearing gets Sen. Landrieu "exposure" rather than "visibility?"
Written by Kelly Haggar
on 5/8/2007
Bill and Sharon, I couldn't agree with you more. When you compare Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana's recovery from Rita, Southwest Mississippi's recovery from Katrina it does make you wonder doesn't it. Maybe it's the federal government, maybe it's the state government, or maybe, just maybe, it's the corruption that has been pervasive in New Orleans' government dependency for so long. No one mentions the number of people from New Orleans who had moved to other parts of the state with better paying jobs, one of whom I know first hand, and still picked up checks in the amount of nearly $6,000.00. As a physical therapist, he was earning $74,000.00 per year in Jeff Davis Parish within two weeks of moving, but never mentioned that while accepting checks from insurance companies and the federal government. I heard it straight from the source as he bragged about it in the locker room of one of the finest health clubs in the south. You know, I don't think this guy can be linked to Governor Blanco, George Bush, Mary Landrieu or David Vitter. Stop blaming government and start looking at the source of the problem. We must end the age old game of continually pointing the finger at the police department for the crime rate while no one has the backbone to hold the criminals accountable.
With United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., on Monday announcing that she will chair a hearing on May 24 to investigate a potential budget shortfall in the State of 
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