Louisiana Turned Down Federal Help

Louisiana's top health official testified before Congress this week that he refused an August 28th offer from the Health and Human Services Department to help the state transfer hospital patients out of the path of Hurricane Katrina.

Louisiana's transportation secretary also testified that he had not developed an evacuation plan because he didn't agree with the assignment and didn't think the state had the resources to carry out such a plan.

The extent to which Louisiana's government officials simply sat on their hands -- and then turned around and blamed the federal government for the state's incompetence -- continues to amaze.