LA State Treasurer: We Need a Big Four Auditor for Katrina Aid

Louisiana State Treasurer John Kennedy has called for his state to hire a Big Four auditor to review federal funding related to the Hurricane Katrina aid effort. Kennedy said that this is an opportunity for Louisiana to escape its reputation for fiscal corruption and that "checks and balances and rechecks and rebalances" are needed. The audit firm would work in conjunction with the Legislative Auditor and Inspector General.

Kennedy shows considerable foresight with this proposal and Louisiana state officals should consider this seriously. Moreover, other major federal spending, whether in AL, LA or MS from the hurricane, the Middle East for military efforts, nationwide for Social Security or for any other purposes, should be subject to similar scrutiny.