From a release by Sen. David Vitter’s office:

U.S. Sen. David Vitter continued to stand up and fight for Louisiana on hurricane recovery and storm protection that have long been delayed by the Army Corps of Engineers’ failings. Meanwhile, the Corps’ top advocate in the Senate, U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan, a Democrat leader from North Dakota, claimed “…the Corps has stood with the people of Louisiana…”

Dorgan, who has given a campaign contribution of $2000* to Charlie Melancon, praised the Corps on the Senate floor this week and arrogantly claimed that the Corps was a positive, almost heroic force in helping Louisiana rebuild. On the contrary, people in Louisiana, not in Washington or North Dakota, have anxiously been awaiting action from the Corps.

“We know Melancon has to look far and wide to find support, but you wouldn’t expect him to take money from the Corps’ top ally, especially when we need to be fighting for projects like Morganza-to-the-Gulf which is in Melancon’s Congressional district,” said Vitter.

Vitter had to correct Melancon’s donor Dorgan on the U.S. Senate floor on numerous occasions during a debate, especially when Dorgan claimed the Corps doesn’t have the authority to proceed on certain projects like Morganza-to-the-Gulf or that Pump to the River is not the most effective method for New Orleans area outfall canals.

Both of these projects have been already written into law and still remain stuck in the Corps’ red tape. Specifically, the Morganza-to-the-Gulf project that is so vitally important to Melancon’s own congressional district has been authorized on three separate occasions over multiple years. Vitter also called out that Melancon’s donor who glossed over a large mistake about the design flaws that caused 80 percent of the catastrophic flooding of the city of New Orleans.

“I’m going to keep fighting for the people of south Louisiana as we continue to rebuild despite – not because of – the Corps. It’s a real shame that Charlie Melancon’s Washington allies are choosing the Corps’ bureaucracy over work that impacts the livelihood of Louisianians,” added Vitter.