Reuters
Tuesday, October 18, 2005

BATON ROUGE, La., Oct. 17 -- Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D) appealed Monday for an end to the bickering that has dominated hurricane recovery in the state and announced a new panel to oversee the process.

The 24-member Louisiana Recovery Authority will develop everything from a 30-day plan to a five-year plan for helping the state's households, schools and businesses, Blanco said at the state capitol.

It will not issue bonds, but will be able to receive and disperse state, federal and private funds, a Blanco spokeswoman said.

The panel will work with a similar commission set up by New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin, and Blanco said she had asked it to "ignore ancient rivalries of politics, race and religion."

The call marks a shift from the bickering among state, local and federal officials since Hurricane Katrina struck on Aug. 29, followed by Hurricane Rita on Sept. 24.

Xavier University President Norman C. Francis will lead the panel. Former CNN executive Walter Isaacson will be its vice chairman.