Edwards would enact 'Brownie's Law'
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards announced a six-point plan Monday to help the Gulf Coast’s recovery from Hurricane Katrina as the historic storm’s two-year anniversary approaches.
As president, Edwards would enact a new requirement - dubbed “Brownie’s Law” by the Edwards campaign – that would require senior political appointees to be qualified for their positions.
Edwards’ plan would also, among other things, address the nursing shortage in New Orleans, aid in the development of a proposed biomedical corridor, and provide federal funding for 500 new police officers for New Orleans’ streets. It would fully fund the so-called “Road Home” program meant to help Louisiana residents return and resettle. Finally, it would include the appointment of a chief recovery officer to oversee the federal government’s involvement in the recovery effort, as well as the appointment of a Gulf Coast inspector general tasked with accounting for public funds spent during the recovery process.
Edwards, a former senator from North Carolina, announced his presidential candidacy in New Orleans in December 2006, and has made the slow pace of recovery in the city a persistent theme in his campaign.
He will participate in a “Hope and Recovery” Summit in New Orleans on Monday night, along with New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and California Rep. Duncan Hunter. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama visited New Orleans on Sunday, and will not participate in Monday’s summit. The summit is hosted by Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu.
- CNN Associate Producer Martina Stewart
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Obama/Edwards 08. The Road Home.
Wow, so they plan on firing 99.98% of existing Political Appointees? I'm all for that.
Now there is a plan with some real substance to it. Wheres your's Hillary, Barrack, Mitt, Rudy,Fred, or Barney?
New Orleans floods.
Its not safe.
why spend all this money on something thats going to flood again.
That's funny, he isn't qualified to be President let alone discuss Katrina victims.
Where to begin? Edwards has $16 million invested in a company that offers mortgages to those with credit problems and they are know foreclosing on them.
Many of those people are 34 of the poorer among us or many are the unfortunate such as victims of Katrina. Subprime lenders saw a market niche whereby they could lend to these people - generally at higher interest rates–and make a lot of money. In essence, they lent money to those who were incapable of qualifying anywhere else and probably shouldn't have received loans and charged a premium for the service.
Edwards says he may or may not have known about subprime lending. That's a real endorsement for president, "I can't remember."
In other words, tax increases.
So Mr Edwards wants to help New Orleans how about giivng back some of that money he made off the hurricane victims from having their houses foreclosed.
Isn't John Edwards invested in a company that foreclosed on 34 Katrina homes. Has he addressed that yet?
Here's a thought. Before Edwards makes anymore proposals to rebuild New Orleans, he should investigate why the public and the U.S Gov keep throwing money in the sinkhole called NOLA? The locals and their state/local governments have been told time and again that NOLA will continue to sink and will most assuredly be destroyed again in the next powerful hurricane, no matter how high a levy system is built or how much money is spent. I'm tired of my taxes going towards bridges to nowhere, bailing out greedy millionaires who chose to build in flood zones and along hurricane coasts, and the spending of MORE money on a city that should have NEVER been expanded into the flood zones around the core of the city. Just another politician pandering for votes. And this makes him different from everyone else how? Yeah, right...trust a trial lawyer.
Edwards has been so involved with Katrina and New Orleans from the very start. He even announced he was running in the 9th ward.
What? And have 90% of Washington officials out of work?
Sounds very similar to the plan Clinton already developed.
Mr. Edwards' hypocracy knows no bounds.
I sincerely hope the do-gooders who want to squander more of our federal dollars on the New Orleans sink hole at least have enough sense to see the government tax money paid buildings are built above sea level this time. How dumb is it to pour all that money into a place everyone knows will flood again simply because it is below grade to begin with? If you want to build a "medical corridor", at least do it where its dry all the time. Get real.
He's planning on helping them if you read anything about it michael, or do you watch FOX news and comment on CNN. Because thats what it sounds like
Oh thank you Mr. Edwards for being such an honest, stand-up guy with so many great morals. You're just what...oh...it's all fake? really?!! Boy, I could have never seen through it....whew.
Amazing. Someone wants to make it a law to only appoint people who are qualified to lead departments. Congrats to the Edwards camp for being innovative.
How dumb are American politicians these days. Katrina wiped out thousands of people's lives because they built the whole place below sea level and depended on a bunch of dykes to support their lifestyle. NOW, they want to build a "medical corridor" when they cannot find the money to rebuild the homes, hopefully on higher land? How silly is this mess? I say dump all the politicians and start fresh with a third party. Bring back Perot.
Bravo! John Edwards has done it again. While other candidates spew cliches and sound bytes, Edwards has announced a solid plan with plenty of details about how he will address the many obstacles still facing the people of New Orleans after Katrina. He seems to be the only one who "gets it". That is why this Iowan will be standing up for Edwards at the caucus in my neighborhood.
"Brownie's Law"...That is priceless!!!
Keep stepping UP for what's right and GO JOHN GO!!!
Why is it that all of the money and anything else is giving to New Orleans area? It seems to me that there were a lot of other places that need this type of help and no one is looking at them. I think New Orleans has got what they need and its time to look at all of the other people that need help.
"Sounds very similar to the plan Clinton already developed."
Since when has Hillary had a plan? All I have heard from her are lip service and chat about how great lobbyists are for Americans, and how the represent us.
Hillary = Bush-lite.
If you wan tto change American, my fellow Americans, elect someone who has not been a Washington insider the last 20 years (Bushes or Clintons).