Gov. Bobby Jindal wants Louisiana to get the same as Texas

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-11/1221716358166610.xml&coll=1
We want same as Texas, Jindal tells Bush
Thursday, September 18, 2008By David Hammer
Gov. Bobby Jindal appealed to President Bush in a letter Wednesday to afford Louisiana the same help he gave Texas on Tuesday by waiving the local share of some hurricane cleanup and evacuation costs.
Bush decided Tuesday to have FEMA pick up 100 percent of the costs for debris removal and emergency measures that Texas governments incurred when Hurricane Ike blasted ashore at Galveston last week.
When Jindal saw that, he decided to renew his call for eliminating the 25 percent share Louisiana must pay for the public costs from both Ike and Hurricane Gustav, which hit the state 12 days earlier.
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"Singularly, each was a major disaster; combined, these storms amount to a catastrophic event for the state," Jindal wrote.
Based on state estimates, a waiver of debris removal costs could save Louisiana about $75 million.
Jindal's office had no estimates Wednesday for the cost of emergency measures borne by local governments. Those costs include shelters, overtime for emergency workers and first responders, local levee protection, communications equipment and backup power generation.
Jindal is still asking Bush to waive 100 percent of the local costs for longer-term recovery efforts, such as public infrastructure repairs. But Bush resisted waiving those same costs after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
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David Hammer can be reached at dhammer@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3322.
We want same as Texas, Jindal tells Bush
Thursday, September 18, 2008By David Hammer
Gov. Bobby Jindal appealed to President Bush in a letter Wednesday to afford Louisiana the same help he gave Texas on Tuesday by waiving the local share of some hurricane cleanup and evacuation costs.
Bush decided Tuesday to have FEMA pick up 100 percent of the costs for debris removal and emergency measures that Texas governments incurred when Hurricane Ike blasted ashore at Galveston last week.
When Jindal saw that, he decided to renew his call for eliminating the 25 percent share Louisiana must pay for the public costs from both Ike and Hurricane Gustav, which hit the state 12 days earlier.
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"Singularly, each was a major disaster; combined, these storms amount to a catastrophic event for the state," Jindal wrote.
Based on state estimates, a waiver of debris removal costs could save Louisiana about $75 million.
Jindal's office had no estimates Wednesday for the cost of emergency measures borne by local governments. Those costs include shelters, overtime for emergency workers and first responders, local levee protection, communications equipment and backup power generation.
Jindal is still asking Bush to waive 100 percent of the local costs for longer-term recovery efforts, such as public infrastructure repairs. But Bush resisted waiving those same costs after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
. . . . . . .
David Hammer can be reached at dhammer@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3322.
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Cosigned. Absolutely Ridiculous decision. Hell why even have local government?