Obama gets advice on New Orleans recovery

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama is getting conflicting advice on how best to help the Gulf Coast hurricane recovery efforts, political observers say.

During his campaign, the Democrat pledged to make good the "broken promises" made by President George Bush, The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reported Sunday.

The newspaper reported that among other things Obama promised to "ensure that New Orleans has a levee and pumping system to protect the city against a 100-year storm by 2011, with the ultimate goal of protecting the entire city from a Category 5 storm.

This week, The Brookings Institution is preparing detailed transition recommendations for Obama, which include a suggestion to replace the current Office of Gulf Coast Rebuilding, created by the Bush's administration in November 2005.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a Republican, has said he favors keeping the rebuilding office but having its director report directly to the president to "ensure Louisiana continues to get the federal assistance and attention we need as we continue to rebuild after four hurricanes in the last three years."