Nelson (D-Ne): Corps lacks repair funds (floods)

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Joseph Morton

WASHINGTON -- The Army Corps of Engineers does not have enough money in its emergency fund for needed repairs to the nation's flood-protection systems after the Missouri River floodwaters recede, U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., told The World-Herald.

Nelson, Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, were among senators from seven Missouri River region states to meet with top corps officials Wednesday.

Nelson said he asked the corps if its emergency fund could cover this year's damages.

"The short answer was ‘no,’" Nelson said.


Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20110713/NEWS01/110719748#nelson-corps-lacks-repair-funds

[RandySF]

1. Then vote to raise some revenue. Ben.

[OHdem10]

2. Instead of having Bernake try to save us from a double by doing

QE3, push Congress for stimulus money and put people
to work repairing all the Dams, Bridges, damaged Highways,
underground pipes.

[DallasNE]

5. I-29 in far western Iowa

Has several miles that have been under water for 2 straight months already. I would expect that much of the flooded portion of I-29 will have to be torn up and rebuilt, including bridges. It looks strange crossing the bridges in Omaha because the water is roughly 27 feet higher than normal for this time of year. With feeder rivers like the Yellowstone still flooding up north high releases from the upstream damns will continue well into the fall and this means no barge traffic this year and that adds significantly to transportation costs. Railroads don't have the right kind of cars to move all of this traffic either.

[russspeakeasy]

3. Benny ...KMA. You haven't earned your salary in 25 years.

You voted against 95% of the things that real democrats stand for...My advice, get some one with some clout to ask...

[madrchsod]

4. watershed between the mountains needs tens of billions a year.

the whole system needs to be rebuilt,redesigned ,and dredged. of course this is nothing new...i the early 1900`s the government and others knew that the river systems at that time needed constant care but even then there was`t enough money.

if we don`t rebuild our river systems the added costs of moving goods will be something we don`t want to really face.