Recent editorials from Louisiana newspapers:
July 12
The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La., on free-trade agreements:
The financial shocks that disabled the world economy were a global phenomenon. In good news for recovery, President Barack Obama now recognizes that the United States ought to be encouraging more trade to lift the world economy.
Following up on an earlier promise on the South Korean free-trade agreement, Obama said July 7 that he also would push for approval of separate free-trade agreements with Colombia and Panama.
The agreements reduce tariffs and other trade barriers between the countries involved. Despite the economic benefits for both nations in each pact, some Democrats in Congress have opposed the treaties negotiated during the administration of President George W. Bush.
A characteristic Obama theme, that we should not be in constant us-against-them mode in political life, was struck by the president on free trade - something he'd been critical of on the campaign trail, where he pandered to anti-trade union sentiments. ...
Trade is one area in which Obama can make common cause with even his vociferous Republican opposition.
In a meeting with editors of The Advocate, U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, earlier called on the administration to push for approval of the trade pacts. He said the "cost-free stimulus" of more trade would benefit the economy.
Boustany represents southwestern Louisiana, where the important Port of Lake Charles is situated, but his remarks are relevant to all the ports in Louisiana. More free-trade agreements would be good for Louisiana's position as an export leader.
We hope Obama will follow through, despite the political difficulties. He should not stop at South Korea, as important a trade partner as that nation is. He also should seek a free-trade pact with Taiwan, the island democracy and major Asia economic player off the coast of the mainland. ...
Free-trade agreements are a way to gain benefits between the U.S. and its partners. The president is right to support them.
___
July 12
The Advertiser, Lafayette, La., on Breaux Bridge victim in reward case:
A Louisiana Supreme Court majority has decided that Diane Alexander, the Breaux Bridge woman who survived an attack by the South Louisiana Serial Killer in 2002, is not entitled to $150,000 in reward money offered in that case.
Even with the law on their side, we hope the Lafayette and Baton Rouge Crimestoppers organizations have a change of heart - or perhaps undergo the addition of one - and pay Alexander and her son. ...
The concern worked its way into the public consciousness and even some defiant humor, about the same time the West Nile virus appeared here. A bumper sticker proclaimed that the well-prepared South Louisiana woman was "wearin' DEET and packin' heat."
The task force investigating the case began under the assumption the killer was white. So were the first victims. But Trineisha Colomb was African-American, so authorities began to reconsider. And that led them back to the case of Alexander, an African-American who had been attacked in her home by a black man who said he wanted to use her phone. That was in July 2002, four months before Colomb's death.
The man later determined to be Lee tried to rape her and strangle her. Alexander, found badly injured by her son Herman, was able to give police a description of Lee and his car and later pick him from a photo lineup. As Justice Jeannette Theriot Knoll noted in her dissent, information based on Alexander's account was released to the public and quickly resulted in the suspect's identification as Derrick Todd Lee. Lee was arrested soon afterward in Atlanta.
Alexander called Crimestoppers to apply for the $150,000 reward in August 2003, three months after Lee's arrest. ...
When called upon to help police, and when asked to testify against Lee in subsequent legal proceedings, Alexander did her duty even though she'd been through a horrible ordeal. Crimestoppers should do its duty, too, ruling or not. Alexander deserves the reward.
___
July 13
The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, on Road Home's aid work isn't finished:
President Bush stood in Jackson Square two weeks after Hurricane Katrina and pledged to "do what it takes. ... stay as long as it takes, to help citizens rebuild their communities and their lives."
Now some members of Congress are trying to take back $400 million in housing aid from Louisiana, arguing that it should have been spent sooner. The House passed an $80 billion emergency spending bill July 1 that would rescind the Road Home aid to help balance the cost of the legislation. The effort is not only mean-spirited and unfair, it's also based on a false premise.
A spokeswoman for House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, a Wisconsin Democrat, said Road Home money was supposed to be distributed by 2007. But that is an impossibility. Louisiana didn't get the final $3 billion for the program until December 2007. How on earth could it have been handed out as quickly as Rep. Obey's office argues it should have been?
In addition, U.S. Housing and Urban Development officials informed Sen. Tom Coburn in May that there is no deadline for obligating or spending the disaster recovery grants.
Katrina appropriations, including the Road Home money, are to "remain available until expended," the HUD letter said. So the 2007 deadline argued by Rep. Obey's staff seems to be a myth.
Perhaps Rep. Obey needs to be reminded that 80 percent of New Orleans was flooded when the federal government's shoddy floodwalls fell apart Aug. 29, 2005. Tens of thousands of homes across South Louisiana were severely damaged by the flooding and by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In many neighborhoods, residents and business owners essentially had to start over. ...
It would be shameful for thousands of disaster victims to be left stranded, and the Senate should keep that from happening.
"As long as it takes," is what Mr. Bush said. Congress shouldn't go back on that promise.
