Latest news: June 28, 2012

Agreement reached on RESTORE Act
By Deborah Barfield Berry and Ledyard King, Gannett. June 27, 2012.
“WASHINGTON — More than two years after the BP oil spill ravaged the Gulf Coast, lawmakers reached a deal Wednesday that could spend billions to boost the region’s economy and restore its environment…” (Read more)

BP fines for Gulf states included in highway bill
The Associated Press. June 27, 2012.
“NEW ORLEANS — U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu says a transportation bill that Congress is close to approving includes a provision to steer 80 percent of the fines BP PLC is expected to pay in water pollution penalties stemming from the Gulf oil spill to pay for restoration in five Gulf states…” (Read more)

Bill with Restore Act may also savage Louisiana Medicaid budget
By Jonathan Tilove, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). June 27, 2012.
“WASHINGTON — House and Senate conferees appear to have struck a deal on a transportation bill that will include key elements of legislation to funnel billions of dollars in BP oil spill fine money to the five Gulf States. But it looks like the deal might come at a high price for Louisiana’s Medicaid budget and the people who depend on it…” (Read more)

Rep. Cedric Richmond authors bill to deepen Mississippi River
By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune. June 27, 2012.
“U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, has introduced legislation that would require the Army Corps of Engineers to deepen the Mississippi River by 5 feet, to 50 feet, from its mouth to Baton Rouge, and use the majority of sediment to rebuild wetlands in the river’s birdsfoot delta…” (Read more)

Corps scraps levee project that would have protected part of Lafourche
By Cain Burdeau, The Associated Press. June 27, 2012.
“NEW ORLEANS — The Army Corps of Engineers said today that it is scrapping its plans to build a $1 billion levee system to protect areas between the Mississippi River and Bayou Lafourche against hurricane flooding coming up the Barataria estuary southwest of New Orleans…” (Read more)