Why New Orleans Needs Saving

(2 of 2)

Washington also has a moral burden. It was the Federal Government's responsibility to build levees that worked, and its failure to do so ultimately led to New Orleans' being flooded. The White House recognized that responsibility when it proposed an additional $4.2 billion for housing in New Orleans, but the first priority remains flood control. Without it, individuals will hesitate to rebuild, and lenders will decline to invest.

How should flood control be paid for? States get 50% of the tax revenues paid to the Federal Government from oil and gas produced on federally owned land. States justify that by arguing that the energy production puts strains on their infrastructure and environment. Louisiana gets no share of the tax revenue from the oil and gas production on the outer continental shelf. Yet that production puts an infinitely greater burden on it than energy production from other federal territory puts on any other state. If we treat Louisiana the same as other states and give it the same share of tax revenue that other states receive, it will need no other help from the government to protect itself. Every day's delay makes it harder to rebuild the city. It is time to act. It is well past time.

Newt Gingrich is a former Speaker of the House; John M. Barry is the author of Rising Tide and The Great Influenza

Quotes of the Day »

Get & Share
AN UNNAMED SOUTH KOREAN NAVAL OFFICIAL, after North and South Korean naval forces exchanged fire Tuesday in disputed waters
For use in rail of Articles page or Section Fronts pages. Duplicate and change name as necesssary to distinguish.

Time.com on Digg

POWERED BY digg

Quotes of the Day »

Get & Share
AN UNNAMED SOUTH KOREAN NAVAL OFFICIAL, after North and South Korean naval forces exchanged fire Tuesday in disputed waters

Stay Connected with TIME.com