Officials to U.S. Corps: Use sediment for coastal restoration
October 18, 2006Opening this Friday, Oct. 27
October 22, 2006Senator to speak at ISI Roundtable in Houma Oct. 23
By SHELL ARMSTRONG
Common Cause of Louisiana awarded State Sen. Walter Boasso (R-Chalmette) for “exceptional public service to the people of Louisiana.” The honor was presented at the organization’s first annual Fall Awards Luncheon in Baton Rouge last weekend.
Boasso, whose district includes a portion of Lafourche Parish, and Louisiana Secretary of State Al Ater were named as heroes of the post-Katrina era in Louisiana.
He serves as chairman of the Senate Select Committee for Disaster Planning, Crisis Management and Long-Term Revitalization and as vice president of the state’s Retirement Committee.
Common Cause cited the senator’s efforts to “consolidate and professionalize the levee board to protect the lives and properties of all citizens in the Greater New Orleans area.”
“I am humbled to receive this award from Common Cause,” Boasso said. “This is what it will take to turn this state around n the people of Louisiana. I salute Common Cause and other organizations in Louisiana who engage themselves in the process to get things done in our state.”
Common Cause is a non-partisan, non-profit advocacy organization. John Gardner, who served as the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare under President Lyndon Johnson and later became chair of the National Urban Coalition, founded it in 1970.
According to the Common Cause Web site, the organization’s mission is to serve “as a vehicle for citizens to make their voices heard in the political process and to hold their elected leaders accountable to the public interest.” Touting a membership of nearly 300,000 n including 38 state organizations n Common Cause issues are aimed at promoting honest, open and accountable government, and encouraging citizen participation in democracy.
Boasso was a major proponent of the state Constitutional Amendment 3, which authorized the legislature to establish regional flood control authorities n consolidating a number of levee boards n in the wake of the 2005 hurricane season. The measure was approved by a 4-to-1 margin.
The senator will join the ISI Roundtable at its Oct. 23 meeting to discuss the levee amendment. The group will meet at the Terrebonne Parish Library’s Main Branch from 6-8 p.m. The meeting is open to the public.
The ISI Roundtable is a monthly gathering of business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs from across the Bayou Region.
