Via WaPo: Brown Had Resignation Plans Before Katrina Hit
Brown resigned on Sept. 12, but the Department of Homeland Security then contracted with him at his full $148,000-a-year salary to serve as a consultant on a review of the response to Hurricane Katrina. The consulting arrangement, initially set to end Oct. 10, has been extended by four weeks, department spokesman Russ Knocke said.
Interesting. As the story suggests, one has to wonder as to Brown’s focus when Katrina hit, given that he was already moving to resign.
And this kind of thing burns me:
Brown resigned on Sept. 12, but the Department of Homeland Security then contracted with him at his full $148,000-a-year salary to serve as a consultant on a review of the response to Hurricane Katrina. The consulting arrangement, initially set to end Oct. 10, has been extended by four weeks, department spokesman Russ Knocke said.
If Brown was considered necessary, then he shouldn’t have been allowed to resign, only to be brought-back as a “consultant”–and certainly given the problems of FEMA under Brown during the Katrina response, one has to wonder what in the world the agency was thinking in giving him such a position.
Of course, I will state that in general I find the process of someone resigning or retiring and then being immediately given a consultants position to be an improper practice that smacks of overt favoritism, cronyism and jobbing the system. Either keep your job, or quit–don’t quit, reduce your overall responsibilities, and then get-hired at the same salary (or higher in many cases) for doing less work.
I am not aware of any extra ordinary “problems of FEMA under Brown during the Katrina response” that were in fact under FEMA control? All the “problems” I’m aware of were solely under the purview and control of the governor(s) and mayor(s). You risk perpetuating an urban myth!
Brown resigned early in order to dampen MSM criticism as unjustified as it was. You risk creating an urban myth!
R/
Comment by Henriet Cousin\' — Wednesday, October 26, 2024 @ 11:07 am
Jeb Bush puts an end to the Katrina in Louisiana myth by stepping up and speaking the Truth to fools–Floridians are at fault for any delays in aid!
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Comment by Henriet Cousin' — Wednesday, October 26, 2024 @ 7:32 pm
As much of the blame as has been laid at Brown’s feet, it would seem foolish to hire him back. But, as much as the press tried to make him sound like some unqualified lackey, he had overseen FEMA during the entire previous year’s hurricane season and was praised for the agency’s performance.
Moreover, a quick resignation could have left FEMA in worse shape. Were Brown to simply resign and walk away, the next FEMA head would have to start over from square one. Even in jobs with fewer responsibilities, one is expected to give a couple weeks’ notice, and to train the new guy, if he’s hired in time. Brown may or may not have deserved the flack he got for the Katrina mess, but he’s still the guy who knows where to find everything in the office, so to speak.
Comment by Tom — Saturday, October 29, 2024 @ 7:07 pm