Bush and Congress cut Hurricane projects in New Orleans

[Pirate Smile]

New Orleans district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers faces

New Orleans CityBusiness, Jun 6, 2005 by Deon Roberts

In fiscal year 2006, the New Orleans district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is bracing for a record $71.2 million reduction in federal funding.

It would be the largest single-year funding loss ever for the New Orleans district, Corps officials said.

I've been here over 30 years and I've never seen this level of reduction, said Al Naomi, project manager for the New Orleans district. I think part of the problem is it's not so much the reduction, it's the drastic reduction in one fiscal year. It's the immediacy of the reduction that I think is the hardest thing to adapt to.

There is an economic ripple effect, too. The cuts mean major hurricane and flood protection projects will not be awarded to local engineering firms. Also, a study to determine ways to protect the region from a Category 5 hurricane has been shelved for now.

Money is so tight the New Orleans district, which employs 1,300 people, instituted a hiring freeze last month on all positions. The freeze is the first of its kind in about 10 years, said Marcia Demma, chief of the Corps' Programs Management Branch.

Stephen Jeselink, interim commander of the New Orleans Corps district, told employees in an internal e-mail dated May 25 that the district is experiencing financial challenges. Execution of our available funds must be dealt with through prudent districtwide management decisions. In addition to a hiring freeze, Jeselink canceled the annual Corps picnic held every June.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4200/is_20050606/ai_n14657367

[Skink]

1. That W's Healthy Hurricaine initiatiave.

[Bluebear]

6. "Modernizing Hurricanes for Our Future!"

[Fleshdancer]

11. I thought it was the "Leave No Hurricane Behind" initiative n/t

[Kurovski]

22. No, remember when he said

We're fighting hurricanes here in DC, so you won't have to fight them there in LA?

[Selatius]

2. The corporatists care about you people, don't you see?

We need the money to build bigger, better bombs and give billion-dollar contracts to our rich buddies. This is good for the economy, and that means it's good for you!

You're an American! If you are too poor to afford to weather a storm, that's your own fault through your own laziness and sloth. Get out there and work. We're not going to support your laziness anymore!

"Work will set you free."

:sarcasm:

[barbaraann]

3. Kick.

n/t

[Double T]

4. More bush administration brilliance......

just when you think the dumb couldn't get any dumber, he do.

[blm]

5. Ashcroft managed to get plenty of money to snag 12 hookers in New Orleans

More than the entire state of Louisiana got for disaster preparedness.

[Double T]

10. But think of the moral damage that would or could have been done....

by these 12 morally bankrupt hookers. I think the plenty of money spent on nabbing 12 hookers is far more important than the money that will be needed to help the gulf coast area rebuild and recover from the total devastation that hurricane Katrina will cause. Let's get our priorities straight.

[Kurovski]

23. Oh, sweet Jesus, can you imagine the sermons

in the crackpot extremist pulpits after Katrina hits?

I wonder if Pat Robertson and Falwell will have the restraint and good sense to keep their fat, fecking yaps shut?

[fishwax]

24. I've been wondering that too

yeah, i doubt it ... :grr:

[Karmadillo]

7. Another issue for the Democrats.

Let's hope they're willing to let the American people know which party controlled the government when tax cuts for the rich and corporate welfare and illegal wars took precedence over all else.

[SmokingJacket]

14. And the Repugs will accuse them of exploiting the disaster for

political purposes, and they'll go hide back in their caves.

Sorry, but I'm feeling cynical at the moment...

[Prodemsouth]

8. If New Orleans is hit hard and America decides that the Repugs

still need to control all branches of Government in 06, despite the ineffectiveness of the Democrats. Then I will not know what to think of this country. What elso do they have to do to you America??!!!!!!!

[malaise]

9. This should be on the front page.n/t

[indepat]

12. Penny-wise and unbef**k*ingly pound-stupid

[troubleinwinter]

13. 'Phooey' on the safety and well-being of American citizens...

Who ever said that the federal government was established for the good of the American people?

Get real. There are corporations to protect and benefit.

[in_cog_ni_to]

15. Unfreakingbelievable! Now, all I need is the dollar figure for Ashcroft's

investigation and arrest of prostitutes in NO. I'll go Google.

[Joanne98]

16. Bush is cutting so Fluor Federal Services can get the contacts

Here it is....

There is an economic ripple effect, too. The cuts mean major hurricane and flood protection projects will not be awarded to local engineering firms. Also, a study to determine ways to protect the region from a Category 5 hurricane has been shelved for now.

PROJECTS WILL NOT BE AWARDED TO LOCAL ENGINEERING FIRMS!

Fluor and the Bush brothers....scroll down..

http://sullivan40.diaryland.com/050324_37.html

Here a thread I started on Bush and Hurricanes...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4484499

[barbaraann]

17. And on top of that, Fluor doesn't do a good job.

(from the article)

:-(

[Joanne98]

18. Fluor is becoming the Bush family's version of Halliburton......

[NYC]

26. Fluor is looking for embassy rebuilding.

That could spell larger market share for big federal players like Fluor, Bechtel Group and CH2M Hill Cos. if the federal sector continues to expand and the jobs get bigger. Fluor claims an 11% share of the DOE market, says Peterson, "and a glass ceiling of 35%."

Peterson also expects the Army Corps of Engineers will de-emphasize its Total Environmental Restoration contracts, too. "Those risks are pretty darn small after 9/11," he says. Consequently, Fluor is is looking for other places to grow its federal business, such as the $11-billion embassy rebuilding program.

It's nice that Fluor will get rich while there isn't enough money to protect New Orleans.

[SlowDownFast]

19. Yep. There it is. Knew this would surface.

So fucking predictable it's pathetic.

Robber barons, all of them.

They don't give a fuck about America.

[WhoWantsToBeOccupied]

20. Good thing global warming doesn't exist or else we'd have mega hurricanes

Do our elected (sic) officials merely love hoarding all of society's wealth for the uber-class, or do they also revel in powerless people's suffering and needless death (both at home and abroad)?

[nonconformist]

21. Kick. nt

[WePurrsevere]

25. and "Bush has slashed Clinton's Disaster Mitigation Program"

posted by Barbaraann - Links and discussion here : DU Thread

<snip>Federal funding of post-disaster mitigation efforts designed to protect people and property from the next disaster has been cut in half.

<snip>
Consequently, the residents of these and other disaster-prone states will find the government less able to help them when help is needed most, and both states and the federal government will be forced to shoulder more recovery costs after disasters strike.

In addition, the White House has pushed for privatization of essential government services, including disaster management, and merged FEMA into the Department of Homeland Security -- where, critics say, natural disaster programs are often sidelined by counter-terrorism programs. Along the way, morale at FEMA has plummeted, and many of the agency's most experienced personnel have left for work in other government agencies or private corporations..."

<more at above link>

:grr:

Here's the REAL message of BushCo "WE DON'T CARE (unless of course you have LOTS of money or are a big corporation)."