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La. cleanup must start at home

Louisiana needs to clean up its corrupt political system if its residents expect Americans to spend billions of dollars in federal aid to help the state recover from Hurricane Katrina. The special legislative session that ended last week showed that state officials have not gotten the message. Not only did lawmakers kill a measure to bring some accountability to the New Orleans-area levee boards, but state officials failed to demonstrate they have a handle on reconstruction.

Only federal aid can provide New Orleans with the mini-Marshall Plan it needs to recover. It is reasonable for the nation to share that burden. The breadth of the damage to homes and the economy, and New Orleans' strategic importance to the shipping and refining industries, make rebuilding the region a national responsibility.

Louisiana could have helped shore up that partnership by agreeing to consolidate the New Orleans-area levee governing boards. But state lawmakers quashed the idea, unwilling to part with a fiefdom system of pork, perks and patronage. By failing to push the issue, Gov. Kathleen Blanco showed she is not serious about cleaning up Louisiana's political image.

Putting flood control under a regional board was about practicality and symbolism. Unifying the boards would make it easier for city, state and federal officials to work together in designing a better levee system. Having that plan in place is crucial to getting New Orleans back on its feet. Attracting residents and businesses back is the first step toward rebuilding the tax and tourism base devastated by Katrina, which, in turn, helps the city to pay storm-related debt and stem job layoffs. Consolidating the boards would have said to Washington that it's not going to be business-as-usual in Louisiana and that the state is ready to be transparent and accountable in managing the reconstruction process.

This lost opportunity should not be used as cover by those in Congress who would leave New Orleans on its own. This great city, which gives the world so much economically and culturally, faces another hurricane season starting in June, with thousands of residents jobless and homeless. Americans are obligated to help, and millions already have. But Washington controls the purse strings, and it should hold them tight until Louisiana demonstrates it is prepared to do its part and not squander the money.

[Last modified November 29, 2005, 02:15:28]