 |
|||||||
|
 |
||||||
 |
|
 |
About Us |
|
Facts & Visuals |
|
Get Involved |
|
Donate |
|
News & Events |
|
For Media |
|
Education |
|
Contact Us |
 |
In The News |
|
Printer Friendly | E-mail to a Friend | Share on Facebook Blanco Launches Drive for Wetlands Support By Mark Schleifstein The Times-Picayune Blanco launches drive for wetlands support Students are urged to join the campaign Louisiana is in good financial shape to begin the job of rebuilding its disappearing coastline, Gov. Kathleen Blanco said Wednesday, although there are nagging concerns about how the state can spend $540 million in federal money included in the energy appropriations bill approved in July. "The energy money is still a little bit of a question mark, " Blanco said while traveling between news conferences in New Orleans and Houma to unveil a new postcard-writing campaign aimed at garnering national support for the state's coastal restoration. In the week after the energy bill was signed, President Bush said the money could be used as the state's match for part of the $1.2 billion Louisiana Coastal Area Ecosystem Restoration plan expected to be authorized by Congress later this year as part of the Water Resources Development Act. But Blanco and other state officials said they're still waiting for confirmation from the federal Department of Interior, which administers the energy money. Blanco is also concerned about Bush's insistence that the state must be responsible for 50 percent of the cost of the coastal restoration projects. Past Water Resources Development projects have required only a 35 percent match from the state. "I frankly find that a little insulting, that he's asking for a 50-50 split when it's never been asked for before," she said. She said she hopes that provision won't make it into the final version approved by Congress. Even with the energy appropriations, Louisiana will have to come up with billions of dollars during the next 30 years to pay for what is expected to be a $14 billion restoration effort. Blanco said a variety of measures setting aside state revenue for coastal restoration should help pay those costs. At Terrebonne High School in Houma, as cheerleaders chanted "S-A-V-E, save our coast," she signed legislation requiring an election this fall on an amendment to the state Constitution requiring any money received from offshore oil production in federal waters to be set aside for coastal restoration. The state already dedicates a share of its offshore oil and gas revenue for restoration projects. Blanco said she may also ask the Legislature to assign a share of the unused "tobacco settlement" money to coastal restoration. And she's trying to persuade coastal parishes to coordinate the spending of their share of the energy money -- they get 35 percent of the $540 million -- with the state's restoration plans. "We're looking at many ways to increase funding," Blanco said. "We will stretch what we have to make it happen." The postcard campaign is the latest publicity push by the America's Wetland Foundation aimed at increasing national public awareness of the state's wetland problems. Blanco urged students from McDonogh 35 High School of New Orleans and Harry Hurst Middle School of Destrehan attending a morning news conference at the Aquarium of the Americas to write to members of Congress and President Bush, urging them to support coastal restoration efforts. The campaign has been developed for teachers to use at the beginning of the school year in lessons on how to write persuasive letters. A teaching curriculum is available on the Web at www.americaswetland.com, along with a link to send e-mail messages to Congress and the president. People also can call 1 (866) 4WETLAND for packets of postcards to be used in the campaign. Newspaper advertisements and bulletin boards will be popping up across the state during the next few weeks urging students and adults to participate in the campaign. "Get your pens out. Get on your computers and write," Blanco said. "Write, right now." At Terrebonne High, Blanco said science teacher Paul Johnson created the model letter-writing campaign several years ago that inspired the new publicity initiative. "You've led the state in this effort," Blanco said in an afternoon rally in the school auditorium. "You've used your own words to tell others across the country about this crisis through your own letters." She told the high school students to send a special message to Bush, asking him to accept her offer of an aerial and boat tour to show him both the state's disappearing wetlands and a few of its first restoration projects. "Mr. President, come on down," she chanted along with them. "Come on down to Louisiana." Blanco was accompanied on the two-city trip by U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., as well as local and state officials, and the group was met by other elected officials at both events. |
|
|
|
