Most, if not all the fault, with failing to upgrade Levees lies with
the Louisiana Congressional Delegation. There a report in today's WSJ
that they were able to get a $400,000 for the Mississippi River Trail
and Bikepath and $3,200,000 for bike and pedestrian crossings of the
Washington-Palmetto Canal in this year's highway bill. Obviously, the
locals have a problem setting priorities and would resent any attempt by
the Bush administration to force them to rethink where Federal monies
are best spent.

"James Robinson" wrote in message

When the budget for improving the levees was cut by the Feds, New
Orleans tried over and over again to get the money reinstated as a
basic
safety measure for the city. Bringing the issue to a vote in the city
would have done nothing to free up the federal funds, which is where
the
money had to come from.