Louisiana Attorney Lawyer

Would show a new interest in political reform, Louisiana legislature has an update on Friday, the consolidation of state employers-ridden Boards dam, hoping to prove they can confidently Washington’s money, several said.

But the legislature has yet another focal point emphasizes the purpose of these changes, the refusal to approve a bill would shrink New Orleans’s bloated government.

The state of the dam numerous boards were quaint institutions of the 19th century, to allow local control of southern Louisiana’s vital systems of protection against flooding. But over the decades, it has been known for growth in other areas: self-administered salary increases, lovers, expensive lunches, mini-police, even an airport.

Hurricane Katrina inspired a reform movement of citizens of New Orleans and a push for change Legislator bordering St. Bernard Parish, whose house was destroyed in the floods. All week citizens filled the Capitol and legislators, Senator Walter J. Boasso, lives in a trailer, beat back efforts to preserve the status quo.

Mr. Boasso work, a compromise will be signed shortly by Dir Kathleen Babineaux Blanco: The many local dishes dam in New Orleans and surrounding municipalities are to consolidate the two authorities, one for each side of the Mississippi River, rather than only Mr. Boasso manner. If voters approve change in a September referendum, it will enter into force in January next year.

Mr. Boasso’s crusade released two subtexts Multi-legislative authority in Louisiana: hostility to New Orleans - rural and suburban contradicted by the legislature whatsoever in a government that enterprises in the city - and a fierce protectiveness of small political fiefdoms, in this case, maps of the dam.

But the police do nothing and dubious real estate venture should be abolished, and the panels themselves, which are often filled with relatives, friends and business partners, the legislator, is composed of professionals, including engineers and of hydro-Loges. Dam officials and members are not allowed to do business with the boards.

The amendments to delay Ms. Blanco, was to help move cards dam back to the store they were created: the observation of defects, cracks and leaks in the area of protection against flood structures.

“It is not perfect, but it certainly has some strong elements of reform,” said Jim Brandt, director of the Public Affairs Research Council, an independent research group.

In a week, if the Bush administration has proposed an additional $ 4.2 billion for reconstruction, symbolic of the disclosure of this change has been made by the legislature. Money is also a $ 6.2 billion already approved for housing.

“This sends a message to the earth, things we are doing the right track,” said Boasso, a Republican in his first term. “We transparency, we have ethics and we have experts.”

Ms. Blanco proposal to the consolidation of several overlapping government offices that for decades, New Orleans ran, but suffered a defeat won.

The city has seven property assessors, two sheriffs, two offices of the two tribunals and courts. With a population of the city fraction of what it was, said criticism, it was even less than previously to justify this unusual provision, which provides yet dozens of jobs funded by taxpayers.

Ms. Blanco, a Democrat, invoices, proposed the merger of these functions, but the sentence was cut and not win New Orleans unenthusiastic lawmakers.

“The real problem is that people have more democratic, we chose as officials of other municipalities,” said Arthur A. Morrell, democratic, representatives of the city. “We do not bother other parishes. Why are they not leave us alone? ”

The bills never been, members of the committee.

“This is an obvious disappointment,” said Brandt. “It was an opportunity to reduce bureaucracy. You sent a message that business as usual “.

Ms. Blanco had another defeat Friday legislature is rejected, if their proposal to establish an agency for the distribution of federal funds for housing, cited concerns additional bureaucracy. The rejection came despite an appearance in the Capitol here Thursday by President Bush’s Gulf Coast Recovery Chief Donald E. Powell, asked the officials to come with a spending plan quickly.