Landrieu gets an earful from Chauvin flood victims

State Sen. Reggie Dupre wants to march on the headquarters of the U.S. Corps of Engineers

in New Orleans and U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu wants to lead the protest.

The two lawmakers made the remarks Saturday before a group of residents from Upper and Lower Little Caillou in Chauvin, a meeting that was part of Landrieu’s tour of Terrebonne Parish in the wake of hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

Also in attendance were State Rep. Gordon Dove, Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet and Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph, who is president of Landrieu’s PACE organization (Parishes Against Coastal Erosion).

Dirk Guidry, owner of Pizza Express in Chauvin, yelled his frustration, after Landrieu informed the group that Terrebonne has had roughly $120 million in its coffers for levee construction protection and improvement, but the government can’t access it because of the way the Corps conducts its business.

“If it belongs to us, give it to us. The people need it now. We need it now,” Guidry said.

Guidry’s business took on 17 inches of water during Hurricane Rita in 2005. It was spared by barely an inch from Hurricane Ike’s storm surge.

Chauvin resident Karen McCoy said she’s in shock that the area is still so unprotected, “…especially when it’s only eight miles from the Houma city limits.”

Landrieu said that since the beginning of her term 12 years ago, it has been “…maddening to watch Louisiana’s coastline disappear,” simply because it is the center of America’s Energy Coast. “This is more than just wetlands.”

The senator explained that Louisiana has sent over $170 billion in oil royalties over the past 60 years to the federal government. “And previously, when we asked for a half-billion back, all they could tell us is ‘No’.”

Louisiana will begin receiving 37 ? percent of its royalty share by 2010. The figure is closer to the amount awarded to other states dating back to President Harry Truman’s term. “Our leaders then erred in judgment and wanted 100 percent. That request got us zero, and it’s something we’ve had to live with since.”

Eugene Naquin Sr., of the Montegut American Legion, challenged the group, saying, “We’ve got to work together, we can’t fight each other.”

Dupre addd, “It’s time the bureaucracy stops, and it’s time to protest in New Orleans, at the end of Prytania Street, in front of the U.S. Corps of Engineers office!”

Offering to lead the way, Landrieu said, “You know that’s not a bad idea.”

President George Bush vetoed the Water Resources Development Act, which authorized Morganza to the Gulf, a 72-mile system of levee protection across south Terrebonne Parish.

“We’ll all wash away,” before Morganza gets moving,” Landrieu said, speaking about the rate the project has advanced.

To that comment, someone asked, “Why won’t the President come here? He goes everywhere else, and he’s in Texas right now?”

“I don’t know,” Landrieu responded.

An irate Dirk Guidry, owner of Pizza Express in Chauvin, shouts about the lack of flood protection in south Terrebonne during U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu’s tour of Houma Saturday. * Photo by HOWARD J. CASTAY JR.