Since the nine members of the Flood Protection Authority voted to sue oil and gas companies, the governor has replaced four of them. Now two seats are open, including one held by a lawsuit supporter. Depending on who gets appointed, lawsuit opponents could have the votes to kill the suit.
It could take months to resolve debate over how a new law was passed and who it applies to.
Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee will join us at 12:15 p.m. CT Thursday to discuss the video, which was featured in The New York Times.
Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans urges legislators to stand with your constituents and vote against SB 553.
The bill is one of several filed in response to the levee board's lawsuit against oil and gas companies.
Gas and oil interests have been good to Robert Adley, and as a senator, Adley has been unfailingly good to them. He insists the Flood Protection Authority lawsuit seeking damages for coastal destruction is illegal. The bills he's moving would make sure of that.
They renominated Tim Doody and picked Tyrone Ben for the other slot.
The documents outline the Flood Protection Authority's case but won't be introduced as evidence in court.
But they voted not to send another name in cases in which the governor rejects a qualified candidate.
After experts blamed pre-Katrina political hacks for ignoring safety issues, voters chose to have experts serve on levee boards. But Jindal has a litmus test that critics say undermines the changes: He wants members who will oppose a lawsuit against oil and gas companies for wetlands damages.
