You Mean THAT Jimmy Carter?

Seems as while former President Jimmy Carter has been off globetrotting in and around others elections and disasters - he may have forgotten this part of his legacy. Point being, from a project funding perspective, no specific administration over the last thirty years is anymore culpable for the floods in New Orleans, than another.

New Orleans Levee System Not Designed for Katrina-Force Storm

The complaints and problems with corps funding go back to the Carter administration, and presidents since then have tried to draw money from the agency's projects to pay for other priorities.

Mike Parker, a former Mississippi congressman who left as civilian head of the corps in 2002 after criticizing the White House budget office, said the funding problems occurred through Democratic and Republican administrations.

"The corps requested money to complete the projects through the years, but the funding level wasn't given to them in order to do it," he said. It's the Bush administration taking the brunt of the heat now. House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said New Orleans got an infusion of money for flood control projects in the late 1990s.

"There was less money spent after that huge project, as, of course, there would be," Blunt said. "Any time you do a big building project, when that project's over, the next year you spend less money." Blunt suggested there might be a limit to the amount that federal programs can do.

Comments

[Isabell]

Just like people, cities and states need to take responsibility for themselves. There are people who have been elected to be in charge so to speak of New Orleans and those are the people that need to make sure the city has what it needs. If they can't meet these safety needs then they need to go to the federal government. If the federal government is responsibile for each and every city in this respect than what is the point of having state and city government? I know the mayor of New Orleans was quick to criticize and blame the federal government for the disaster but if he had been doing his job some things could have been handled before the storm hit. It is hurricane season and it is well known that it was expected to be a season with a lot of major hurricanes. Pay attention and take responisbility for ourselves. The federal government is there for backup not to head each cities needs from start to finish.

[jolari]

Right now I think everyone in the government needs to focus on the matter at hand. Do what needs to be done to get these citizens cared for now. They have suffered enough under political shortcomings. The time for blame & name calling can begin when these people have been able to return to some time of normal life.

[okoj]

Since 9/11 large scale emergeny planning is done by FEMA/Homeland security. It was those agencies which have failed. Local governments are great for collecting garbage, and removing snow. I do not think any of the big states (CA, NY, FL,TX) could handle this, let alone a midsize city. I think about what would be the reponse to a major disaster in my hometown of Rochester, NY. The disaster would have to take out Buffalo, Erie, Cleveland, Syracuse, and all points between. Should these cities prepare for a major disaster, separate from the federal government? Is your local government prepared? Just what to take a poll. Are my conservation friends up for the challenge? ;)

[isabell]

I suppose I agree. It is just so pointless to try to blame any group anyways. No one wanted to see this happen to anyone.