FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2006
RELEASE CONTACT: Lewis Lowe
985-369-7770

What Romero Says vs. What Romero Does

State Senator Craig Romero announced part of his plan to restore Louisiana’s coast today in Chalmette.  But what Romero’s plan does not mention is his inaction as a member and eight-year Chairman of the Senate Natural Resources Committee.  Romero has been in the Senate for 14 years, but has accomplished little for coastal protection and restoration.

In fact, since the devastating storms of 2005 Romero has failed to offer a SINGLE bill dealing with coastal protection.   

Furthermore, it is incredibly hypocritical that Senator Romero would announce his plan in St. Bernard Parish.  Shortly after Katrina, Romero traveled to Washington, D.C. to drum up support for his campaign because the devastation in St. Bernard would supposedly make the 3^rd District more Republican.  SEE ATTACHED PIE CHART THAT ROMERO USED.

Romero’s family, however, has found time to profit from the storms.  Sea Shells, Inc., a company once owned by Romero and currently owned by four of his siblings, landed a $1,000,000 contract for hurricane cleanup following Hurricane Rita in Iberia Parish. 

There is precedent for Sea Shells to profit from storms.  Following Hurricane Andrew, Sea Shells received a contract from Iberia Parish when Romero was Parish President.  The State Board of Ethics fined Sea Shells $10,000 for violating state statutes.  This came after Sea Shells was warned nine years earlier to stop bidding on Parish contracts!

“Romero has a so-called plan to restore our coasts, but he has accomplished little as a career politician to solve the problem of coastal restoration,” Campaign Manager Bradley Beychok said. “Craig Romero talks about coastal restoration, but fails to act.  Instead of protecting our coast, he lines his pockets with 15 paychecks to enrich himself.”

While Romero can only talk about a plan to restore our coasts, Congressman Charlie Melancon has already taken action.  In just his first term, Melancon has co-sponsored and helped pass the Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act, which could give Louisiana billions in offshore oil and gas royalties in order to restore its coast.  Melancon worked in a bi-partisan fashion during the bill’s negotiations and was able to get 40 Democrats to support the bill, many of whom would not normally vote to expand oil and gas drilling.  Melancon has also:

• Voted for the 2005 Energy bill, which appropriated over half a billion dollars for coastal restoration to Louisiana
• Voted for and pushed the Water Resources Development Act, which authorized protection projects like Morganza-to-the-Gulf.  Melancon also inserted language into the bill that would require all Corps of Engineer projects to protect against Category 5 hurricanes for the first time.  WRDA also includes money to restore the marshlands in Eastern St. Bernard Parish that were damaged by the MRGO.
• Proposed a tax credit for people who carry out private coastal restoration projects
• Wrote and Sponsored the MARC Act (Meeting Authorizations Required for the Coast), which required the Corps of Engineers to speed vital protection and restoration projects before the 2006 hurricane season.  Included in the bill was a new study to find a way to better use sediment from dredging projects.
• Persuaded 25 Members of Congress to come to the Gulf Coast on the year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina to meet with local officials from all areas of the community.  These members paid for the trip out of their own pockets.
• Secured $30 million for non-federal levees in Terrebonne Parish.  Congressman Melancon worked with conferees and Senator Landrieu to ensure that Terrebonne Parish would receive funding for levees until the Morganza project is completed.

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