More foddder for the Blame Game from July -- Bush: Screwed LA wetlands

[Armstead]

From website of Gov. Blanco

http://www.gov.state.la.us/Press_Release_detail.asp?id=927

Date: 7/18/2005


GOVERNOR BLANCO’S RESPONSE TO U.S. ENERGY SECRETARY SAMUEL W. BODMAN’S LETTER TO HOUSE AND SENATE CONFEREES FOR H.R. 6, THE ENERGY BILL:

“The U.S. Senate recently voted to recognize the seriousness of the loss of Louisiana’s coastal wetlands by voting to help fund our recovery efforts. It is, therefore, incomprehensible to learn today that the U.S. Energy Secretary, on behalf of the Bush Administration, opposes coastal impact assistance and the sharing of revenues with the coastal producing states in our nation’s Federal energy policy. That this administration could actively oppose compensating the states that continue to produce so much of our nation’s energy is not just shortsighted, it’s irresponsible.

“Maybe seeing will help the President understand. I am offering a formal invitation to him and to Secretary Bodman to tour our disappearing coastal wetlands and to see, firsthand, the critical energy infrastructure being put at greater and greater risk as these wetlands continue to vanish. During hurricane season, the loss of our wetlands makes our citizens even more vulnerable to the loss of life and property.

“I urge every citizen of Louisiana to write or call President Bush and tell him about the importance to the nation of our state’s coast. ([e-mail]; 202-456-1111; The President, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C., 20500) Let him know we expect him and his energy secretary, of all people, to understand and acknowledge the great contribution Louisiana makes to the energy security and economic health of our great nation. Let him know it’s time to share the revenues with Louisiana and the other coastal producing states so we can keep producing the nation’s energy in years to come.

“I also urge those members of our delegation who are close to the White House to make their voices heard. We are depending on their help to convince President Bush that we are in an urgent battle for survival.



“If White House officials are sincere about decreasing our nation’s dependency on foreign oil, they need to stand with us, not fight against us. This is a battle for our nation’s security and economy, for our environment and for our way of life. This is a battle to save America’s Wetland.”

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Governor Blanco Invites President Bush to Tour Coastal Louisiana

July 19, 2005

The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

Members of the U.S. Senate and House are presently conferencing H.R. 6, the Energy Bill, which will guide this nation’s Federal energy policy for decades. You have made it clear that you would like Congress to act on policy that would diminish our nation’s reliance on foreign oil. As the governor of a state that hosts the lion’s share of America’s offshore energy supply, I am in complete agreement.

However, it has repeatedly come to my attention that your Administration is not in agreement with provisions of the Energy Bill that would share offshore oil and gas revenues with the coastal producing states or would provide direct payments to those states for coastal impact assistance. Although budget constraints are cited as reason for the attempts to have such provisions removed from the bill, please consider the far greater costs of not addressing the catastrophic coastal land loss occurring in Louisiana, land loss that puts our nation’s energy security and economic future at risk.

We are making a tremendous effort to educate the public and Congress about what states like mine do for the country and about the peril we face as a nation as we lose this valuable part of America’s coast. Louisiana, alone, puts an average of $5 billion a year into the Federal treasury from energy produced off its shore. Yet, we are facing land loss at the rate of 24 square miles a year. Without significant, dependable, direct revenues, we will not be able to stop the destruction and the subsequent national impacts.

Therefore, I extend an urgent invitation to you and to Energy Secretary Bodman to come to my state and let me show you from the air what is happening on our coast. This perspective will give you an idea of the scale and magnitude of the problem, as well as a profound understanding of the amount of energy production taking place here. Let me show you the fragile wetlands that are the only protection for the thousands of miles of pipelines that connect this nation to 80 percent of its offshore energy supply and to a full third of all its oil and gas, both foreign and domestic. The vulnerability of those protective wetlands is all the more apparent to our two million coastal zone residents during this active hurricane season.

I urge you to schedule the visit before the Energy Bill is completed. I know that once you see what is unfolding, firsthand, the urgency my state and our nation faces will be clear.

If you can arrange a trip to our coast, the contact here is Sidney Coffee, who heads my coastal policy office. She can be reached at 225-342-3968 or [e-mail].

Sincerely,



Kathleen Babineaux Blanco
Governor

[Armstead]

1. Kick

It's importsant to note how little concern the administration had for this, while they now point fingers at the state for not being more pro-active.

The administratioin basically said "Let them Eat Weltands" a mere month before this happened.

No idea that such a calamity could happen?

[stillcool]

2. how could they have known?

its becoming more and more apparent...no one in this administration or those they appoint to federal positions can read.

[Armstead]

3. Good point

But they can read My Pet Goat

[stillcool]

4. nah...My Pet Goat has really nice pictures....

[Armstead]

5. Maybe that's why she wanted him to visit

So she could point to the pretty scenery from the air and say "Now Mr. President, this is a coastline. This is what happens when you allow a coastline to deteriorate....Now if we have a hurricane -- that's a big storm -- it will make matters worse."

[Armstead]

6. One more kick

This rejection of assistance for coastal repair would not have prevented the damage from Katrina. But it does illustrate the underlying attitudes of the administration towards the state, the environment and potential natural and man made disasters right before the hurricane hit.

Especially sickening with all of the GOP fingerpointing and "blame game" they areditrecting to the very state they refused to help before the disaster.