FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2006
RELEASE CONTACT: Lewis Lowe
985-369-7770

Melancon Receives "Gold" for Support of Levees
But Romero Supporters Make "Black List"

Levees.org, a nonprofit grassroots organization based in New Orleans , announced their "Black and Gold" list of federal legislators today. Representative Charlie Melancon (Napoleonville) was honored with a place on their Gold List of legislators for his efforts to build stronger levees in South Louisiana .

Making the organization's "Black" list for their lack of support for levees were House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Representative Jeb Hensarling. Hastert's cruel statement that "It makes no sense to spend billions of dollars to rebuild a city that's 7 feet under sea level," earned him a spot on the list. [ Seattle Times, September 2, 2005 ]

Hensarling, who has been one of the most adamant opponents of rebuilding New Orleans and South Louisiana, made the list because for his comment, after visiting New Orleans for the first time after Katrina, that "Those able-bodied individuals under 65, what are they doing to help themselves?" [ New Orleans Times-Picayune, March 15, 2006 ]

Hensarling also gained notoriety when he said "The American people cannot afford to keep paying for more Gucci bags or tattoos in the name of hurricane recovery." That comment was issued in a press release after Hensarling voted against emergency appropriations for rebuilding New Orleans and fighting the war in Iraq .

Craig Romero has enjoyed generous contributions from both Hastert and Hensarling for his campaign for the 3rd Congressional District seat. Hastert's PAC has given Romero $10,000. Romero frequently brags about his support from Republican leadership. But this very same leadership has proven they do not care about South Louisiana and see no need to rebuild the Gulf Coast .

Charlie Melancon will always work to build stronger levees and a better hurricane protection system and will stand up to anyone that opposes helping South Louisiana .

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