Louisiana Senator Blocks Corps Nominee

[cal04]

Source: CAIN BURDEAU, Associated Press Writer

Sen. Mary Landrieu said Tuesday she has blocked Senate confirmation of the nominee to head of the Army Corps of Engineers to allow time for debate on his role in rebuilding hurricane-ravaged Louisiana.

Landrieu, D-La., said she had placed a "procedural hold" on the nomination process for Lt. Gen. Robert Jan Antwerp Jr.

His credentials are not in question, she said in a statement, but she wants to determine if Antwerp will be "the partner we need for the recovery and protection of our region, or will he be the agent of a failed status quo?'"

The corps has come under criticism for installing drainage pumps to protect New Orleans in spite of apparent deficiencies.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070403/ap_on_go_co/landrieu_corps_of_engineers_1

[aquart]

1. Sounds fair.

Is it?

[jobycom]

2. I'm in favor of Landrieu using whatever she can to get attention to the issues in NOLA.

Not to mention that Bush's downfall began because of Katrina, so anything which points out the continued failures of BushCo over Louisiana is good for us. :)

The Corps' attitude, it seems to me, so far has been "we didn't do nothin' wrong, and all you whiners need to shut up so we can rebuild things about the same as they were before the hurricane." She's looking for something more realistic, I think.

[Acadia Blue]

3. Good. We have fallen off the news circuit here. Its still a mess.

[MasonJar]

4. Good, Mary, hang tough; New Orleans needs strong government

intervention.

[dsharp88]

5. Katrina relief was part of what Bush called "pork"

in the military funding bill submitted by the democrats. He had promised that relief for the gulf coast a year and a half ago in a PR move that was pure B***S***.

He didn't deliver and now he's calling it pork.

Mary Landrieu (D-La.) is a bit conservative for my tastes, but she's tough as nails. It's good to have her on our side.