Port of New Orleans stands to benefit from Water Resources Act

[funkybutt]

"The Port of New Orleans has its fingers crossed that a federal water bill authorizing $160 million for port projects will survive a veto threat by President Bush.

The Water Resources Development Act, which the Senate voted Monday to pass to the White House, would authorize $160 million to help the port relocate businesses affected by the closure of the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet. The federal government has ordered the closure of the MR-GO, a man-made waterway that cuts through St. Bernard Parish and contributed to flooding there during Hurricane Katrina."

-snip-

"We are in dire straights" without the water bill funds, LaGrange said.

-snip-

"We are cautiously optimistic right now that the votes are going to be there to override a veto," said Adam Sharp, a spokesman for Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. "The billion dollar question right now is whether there are enough Republican members who will stand by their vote and vote to override the president's wishes."