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.
I had my chance to put state coastal czar Garret Graves on the spot, but high-caliber attorneys suing oil and gas companies beat me to it.
Given the state coastal authority's opposition to the suit, Wednesday's meeting could be contentious.
Sandy Rosenthal: " ... if there were a good reason for Jindal to continue shielding Big Oil from its legal responsibilities to the people of Louisiana, we would have heard it by now."
Moseley: "If it weren’t so insulting, it would be grimly amusing how such a lucrative industry always postures as teetering on the brink of financial disaster."
The three new members have raised legal questions about how the board picked and hired its outside attorneys.
The motion passed.
Why not share the cost nationwide? That's what the oil industry will do anyway, at no cost to its bottom line.
Add another parish to the list of prospective plaintiffs that includes Jefferson and Plaquemines.
The legal community remains skeptical that the federal agency's immunity can be punctured.
