Cognitive Dissonance 101: Landrieu Voices Vigorous Support For Oil Industry, Coastal Restoration

[hatrack]

Facing a tough re-election race against Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, and other Republicans, Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., on Friday stressed her commitment to Louisiana's energy industry and to protecting the state's fragile coastline.

Landrieu, who delivered her keynote speech the Harvey Industrial Canal Association's monthly luncheon, seemed to respond to a recent spate of critical ads paid for by the conservative group Americans for Prosperity. One ad argued that Landrieu has been ineffective in blocking environmental regulations that the group believes will hurt Louisiana.

"I've been an advocate and supporter of [the oil and gas industry] for as long as I can remember," Landrieu said, adding that she first began working with the oil and gas industry during her time as State Treasurer in the nineties.. Her current position as Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, she said, gave her the clout required to fight the "overreach" of federal agencies like the Environment Protection Agency and Department of Energy.

Ed. - Ooh! Freedumb!!

EDIT

The 2012 Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast is expected to cost approximately $50 billion. At present, Landrieu said, Louisiana does not have nearly enough money to fund the plan. The solution, she said, lies in revenue sharing. In 2006, Landrieu helped to push through the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, which allows energy producing states on the Gulf to use offshore oil revenues for coastal conservation, restoration and hurricane protection. The revenue sharing does not officially kick in until 2017, but the bill has already led to some $30 million for coastal restoration projects in Gulf coast states, Landrieu said.

EDIT

http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2014/07/senator_landrieu_stresses_supp.html#incart_river

[littlemissmartypants]

1. SHM. eom