Louisiana will get a windfall when the $18.7 billion fine the Gulf states negotiated with BP is finally meted out. The money is supposed to be used to rebuild the coast and mitigate damage from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill, but last week, Gov. Bobby Jindal petitioned the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority to divert some of the cash to a bridge project that would connect Port Fourchon and Golden Meadow.
Though the request was supported by some public officials, like Rep. Gordon Dove, R-Houma, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, it was panned by coastal advocates and at least one of the men seeking to replace Jindal.
Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne said the BP fine money should go to nothing but coastal restoration.
"Gov. Jindal is wrong on this issue," he said. "I recognize the importance of elevating Highway 1, but that important project should be funded from other sources. Diverting any money away from coastal-restoration projects for infrastructure use will set a bad precedent and put us further behind in fully funding the Coastal Master Plan."
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