Sen Bayh tours Katrina-ravaged Louisiana

Sen Bayh was the first out-of-state member of Congress to visit Katrina-ravaged Slidell LA on Friday. Sen Bayh was in Louisiana with a delegation invited by Sen Landrieu. Thanks to Paul Rioux at Healthcare for Peace for the description:

Nearly 10 months after Hurricane Katrina swamped southern Slidell, Mayor Ben Morris on Friday welcomed the first out-of-state Congress member to tour the damage: Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, who is considering a run for president in 2008.

“He’s the first one to come here, and I sure hope he won’t be the last,” said Morris, who has lamented that Slidell’s plight has been overshadowed by the devastation in New Orleans.
...
“I just want to help,” Bayh said. “That’s what neighbors are for.”
...
The tour also made stops at Salmen High School and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Before boarding a helicopter bound for New Orleans, Bayh said he was encouraged by signs of progress in Slidell.

“A lot of good work has been done, but there’s a lot more to do,” he said, adding that the federal government should play a continued role in the rebuilding process.

Bayh said he supports a proposal backed by Landrieu and other Louisiana lawmakers to give the state a share of offshore oil and gas revenue to finance projects to restore the state’s dwindling coastline and wetlands.

“We’re more than just a collection of 50 states; we’re one country,” he said.

Of course going there is one thing... doing something to help is another. That is why Sen Bayh is backing a plan to transfer up to 75% of off-shore drilling royalties from the Federal gov't to the Gulf Coast states to help in their rebuilding. WNOL-TV wrote this:

Louisiana U.S. Senators David Vitter and Mary Landrieu spent a day off from Capital Hill with friends in tow, Vitter, with Republican Senator George Allen of Virginia and Landrieu, with Democratic Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana.
...
"This is more than just a test for Louisiana or for Mississippi, the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast is a test for America," said Bayh. "We need to be there for you at this critical hour."
...
The state congressional delegation is pushing for a new law that would give coastal states up to 75-percent of offshore energy royalties, now going to the federal government.

"There has always been strong support in the Senate. The last bill that we had, had 72 signatures on the bill," said Senator Landrieu. "But, we've had to get leadership to move. But, I'm here to say the republican leadership is poised to move."
...
"That deep sea exploration will be good for energy security for our country, but it will also for you all, not have to worry about an appropriation bill every year out of the Senate and it will allow people of Louisiana to use that money as they see as a priority," said Senator Allen.

"I support that as well, so that you can restore you wetlands to serve as the first line of defense, something Mary brought to my attention and I'm pleased to support," said Senator Bayh.
...
"You got two Democrats and two Republicans," said Senator Bayh. "Washington is too divided unfortunately, that's a fact. It's regrettable that it takes a natural disaster sometimes to bring us together."

Sen Bayh was one of only 15 Senators to vote to transfer funds from the Bridge to Nowhere to repair the Twin Spans Bridge connecting Slidell with New Orleans.

At the appropriate place, add the following: Section 144(g)(1) of title 23, United States Code, is amended--

(1) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ``for the construction of a bridge joining the Island of Gravina to the community of Ketchikan in Alaska'' and inserting ``for the reconstruction of the Twin Spans Bridge connecting New Orleans, Louisiana, and Slidell, Louisiana'';

On a completely unrelated note... my long suffering Tigers have become the first team in the Majors to reach 50 wins with 2-out double in the 10th inning after scoring 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to tie. Go Tigers!