Tainted Saints

” “It seems like the Obama team through FEMA has come in with a whole new attitude that says, ‘Let’s cut through the red tape so we can get to building,’” said New Orleans City Council president Arnie Fielkow.

The administration’s August announcement of a new arbitration process could be a turning point for stalled health, school, road, public safety and environmental work.

Still, even as Obama pushes for a health care overhaul in Congress, there’s a struggle in New Orleans to get federal funds for building a much-needed public hospital. Louisiana leaders are also working to prevent the federal government from cutting $700 million from the state’s Medicaid funds after hurricane recovery payments artificially spiked the state’s per capita income.

Much remains to be done… “