SACOFTOMATOES

SOMETIMES MONEYS THE PROBLEM

With all the finger pointing going on regarding the devastation from Katrina I went looking at the funds that go to the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers and were it is spent. I was amazed to learn that congress has approved so many pet projects that there is a backlog of unfunded projects totaling $38 billion. And the Corps earmarks $2billion a year for new construction, that means it would take about 19 years just catch up if no new projects were approved by congress.
The New Orleans budget itself was $343.5 million a year. Were does the money go? Who decides what local projects get the funds. It looks like a lot of the money went to keeping union officials and party bosses happy. Stephen Jeselink, interim commander of the New Orleans Corps District when faced with a budget of only $272.4million (down 20million) he put in a hiring freeze and canceled the annual picnic. It must have been one hell of a picnicWell its time to end the free lunch on the taxpayers money.

posted by pappy @ 10:39 AM