[StBernard] Governor Blanco asks President to give Louisiana a fair hand

[Westley Annis]

Governor Blanco asks President to give Louisiana a fair hand
Makes case for 100 percent disaster relief 


BATON ROUGE, La. - Louisiana has resolved its budget crisis, closing nearly
a $1 billion state budget shortfall during a special session of the state
Legislature.  Now, Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco has called on the
federal government to do its part.  She has asked President George W. Bush
to help Louisiana recover from the costliest catastrophe in United States
history. 

With a devastated economy and a looming cost-share for disaster relief of
$3.7 billion, Governor Blanco makes the case for 100 percent disaster relief
in her letter to the President.

She reminds the President that requests for 100 percent federal assumption
of a state's cost-share requirements, especially that of public assistance,
has been granted before.  FEMA has approved cost-share adjustments for other
national disasters including Hurricane Iniki, Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane
Hugo and the 9/11 attacks on New York. Recovery costs for Hurricanes Katrina
and Rita far exceed that of any disaster or catastrophe in U.S. history.

The state has taken aggressive steps to help itself recover, including: 

*	
	Redirecting $10 million from the state's Rapid Response Fund to make
short-term, interest-free loans to businesses struggling to stay on their
feet. 
*	
	Placing nearly 5,000 trailers at Louisiana plants and businesses as
temporary housing for employees. 
*	
	Payment of approximately $300 million in unemployment benefits to
more than 310,000 workers affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita  
*	
	Granting the entire $16 million dollars in the Louisiana Interim
Emergency Fund to local governments trying to keep their vital services
going. 

As the state does its part to balance a devastated budget and help its
citizens recover, Governor Blanco encourages President Bush to use his
influence to have FEMA cost-share adjustments made in the aftermath of two
devastating hurricanes. "We have absorbed billions in disaster costs
already," said Governor Blanco. "We simply can't absorb anymore in the form
of cost-share for federal aid." 

"As you can see, the most recent disasters here in Louisiana are
dramatically greater than that experienced in other Presidentially-declared
disasters, placing an impossible burden on our state, local governments, and
citizens," said Governor Blanco. "Your help in waiving the non-Federal
cost-share for disaster assistance is desperately needed."   

-- Click here for the full text of Governor Blanco's Letter to President
Bush
<http://www.gov.state.la.us/assets/docs/PDFs/PresBush-100-FundingLtr.pdf> 


###

The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation (LDRF), Louisiana's fund for
Louisiana's people, has been established by Governor Kathleen Babineaux
Blanco in order to support long-term family restoration and recovery and
help provide assistance to our citizens in need through a network of
Louisiana charities and non-profit agencies. 

1-877-HELPLA1 (877-435-7521) www.louisianahelp.org