Louisiana Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu had harsh words for the federal government on the eve of hearings into the progress of rebuilding the Gulf Coast following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

WWL-TV

Senator Mary Landrieu

Landrieu blamed the government for much of the devastation caused by Katrina and for the slow pace of recovery in Louisiana.

“I often think we would have been better off if the terrorists had blown up our levees,” she said. “Maybe we’d have gotten more attention.”

Landrieu also had strong words for many people in Washington who, she says, unfairly portrays Louisiana as the nation’s most corrupt state.

“Mississippi is actually the most corrupt state in the Union, but you never hear that, because there’s some political undertones about having Mississippi look so good and having Louisiana not look so good at the national level,” she said, echoing a theme put forth the past week by Governor Kathleen Blanco, who said that Mississippi received more aid because its governor is a Republican.

Landrieu said she hopes that with Democrats now in control of Congress that Washington’s perception and commitment will change.

Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman is heading a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which is checking in on the government’s response to Katrina and Rita.

“Congress has a real obligation, not only to the people in Iraq, but to the people in New Orleans and on the Energy Coast,” said Landrieu.

Donald Powell, who is overseeing the Bush administration’s response to the rebuilding, reiterated that President Bush is committed to rebuilding the Gulf Coast, better and stronger than it was before the storms. He said that a tremendous amount of progress has been made and that a tremendous amount of work lies ahead.

However, Powell emphasized that the vision and plans for the rebuilding must start at the local levels and not in Washington.