The federal government is committed to building the best levee system known in the world.
Unfortunately, that commitment was never kept. The Bush administration worked hard to avoid dealing with the issue of Category 5 flood protection for Louisiana. Instead of making Category 5 protection a firm goal for the region, Bush and Powell told the Army Corps of Engineers to study the issue, to see what the "science dictates". So USACE studied the issue, and was supposed to present their Cat 5 plan for South Louisiana by the end of last year. However, the release of the plan was delayed; delayed past the first of the year, delayed past the SOTU, and now delayed into Spring. Hopefully it will be out soon, so that everyone can see what the "science dictates". But it appears that now, just before the Corps finally presents its plan for the "best levee system in the world", the Bushie who made the strongest commitment to South LA flood protection has decided to go home early. Don Powell needs to head back to Tejas to tend his banks:
Powell did not give a specific reason for the timing of his decision. The executive order that created the office is due to expire in November, three years after it began. Powell's chief of staff, Paul Conway, has been named his interim replacement.
Powell plans to return to Amarillo, Texas, and resume his banking career.
So long, Hoss.
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Update: Celcus has much more.
Labels: ACoE, Cronies, D. Powell, flood protection, levees, Tejas
