The Louisiana delegation, second to none in bringing home the bacon, is as much to blame for these skewed priorities as the corps is.

The most egregious example of self-dealing comes from the Louisiana delegation.

At the time of his death, Aswell was the dean of the Louisiana congressional delegation.

Melancon worked with the rest of the Louisiana delegation in Congress to bring billions of recovery dollars to south Louisiana.

The bill sank, despite a successful scramble to unite the disparate Louisiana delegation behind it and appeals from business leaders.

Other lawmakers disputed that, saying none of the rebuilding costs have been considered, as the Louisiana delegation is preparing a multibillion-dollar aid request.

"I just stay real close behind those gals in tennis shoes and I get across the street every time," said an aide to the Louisiana delegation.

But she and others from the Louisiana delegation have been shortchanging the levees themselves.

The commission report was also rejected by members of the Massachusetts, Pennsylvania Indiana and Louisiana delegations.

Among those in attendance was the Louisiana delegation.