Senator Vitter, looking for more Cha Ching, blocks the appointment of Craig Fugate to FEMA

Editor’s Note: Kudos (!) to Uppity for producing this report on Vitter’s astonishingly disgusting stunt.

Our own Freedom Fairy drew my attention to the fact that the appointment of Craig Fugate to FEMA is being blocked by Senator David Vitter. Our own Freedom Fairy not only reminded me, but she actually knows and worked with Craig Fugate. So this time around, we have first hand testimony to the quality of The Man.

So what’s David Vitter’s problem with Craig Fugate? Well nothing actually. He just wants himself a little attention for his support–which of course translates into more money that can turn up unaccounted for.

David Vitter: the same guy who tried to block the appointment of Hillary Clinton to SOS (which I don’t mind telling you places him directly on my S list), has this to say about his monkey wrench behavior over the appointment of Craig Fugate as FEMA Director:

I can assure you that this isn’t about politics,” Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) writes in an e-mail complaining about the Obama administration’s handling of his inquires about FEMA.

But click on a “PUTTING LOUISIANA FIRST” logo embedded right next to that quote in the mail, and you’re whisked away to the David Vitter for U.S. Senate website, which says: “We need your help in order to win this campaign.”

“Support David by making a contribution today,” the homepage invites right next to a “DONATE” button. Vitter is up for reelection next year.

Nah, it’s not about politics. Not at all.

Then what IS it about?

With hurricane season approaching, Vitter has stalled Senate confirmation of Craig Fugate (FYOO’-gayt), who was nominated two months ago by President Barack Obama to head the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

White House spokesman Nick Shapiro said Thursday night: “President Obama has followed through on his promise to put politics aside by tapping Craig Fugate, who was originally appointed by [former] Florida Governor Jeb Bush [as chief of emergency management], to lead FEMA. With hurricane season three weeks away, Fugate’s stellar record and bipartisan support deserve Senate confirmation—not partisan posturing from a Louisiana senator who should know better.”

When the nomination was announced, Bush said: “Kudos to President Obama for a great choice.” U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) was quoted as saying Obama “couldn’t have chosen a better FEMA director.”

Joel DiGrado, a Vitter spokesperson, said: “Sen. Vitter is using every means of communication available to explain his reasons for holding the FEMA nominee to Louisianans – namely the more than 70 days it has taken FEMA to make a policy decision that affects people recovering from storms that hit almost four years ago. If anyone is politicizing this, it is the [Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee] and the administration.”

The Tampa Tribune said a fellow Republican, Sen. Mel Martinez (Fla.) considers it “dangerous politics for a Republican from storm-ravaged Louisiana to be holding up the FEMA chief just three weeks before hurricane season starts. ‘He needs to be in there,’ Martinez said. ‘Some people utilize (the nominations) process as a way of making a point, or getting attention.’”

Apparently, Mr. Vitter wants some an$wer$about FEMA as they relate to rebuilding his state that was ravaged by Katrina. I was wondering why he didn’t ask them of President Bush instead–or maybe he did and Bush ignored him after having noticed that there’s never enough money for Louisiana politicians. Maybe it’s because money just seems to disappear when you give it to the state of Louisiana. Google “Lousiana Katrina Corruption” to understand exactly why so many of the billions that were handed to these politicians were routed to God Knows Where.

The fact is, Louisiana high level politicians are either inept at taking care of their own state’s problems or they are too busy doing what Louisiana has been known best for: Looting the coffers for their friends. Lousiana has had the reputation of being the most corrupt political state in the country for decades. It’s only recently that Illinois inched them out of the spotlight. Google “Where did the money go Katrina Lousianaand learn how $60 million in relief money to Mr. Vitter’s state just plain “disappeared”. Now Mr. Vitter is looking for more money to oversee.

At what point does Lousiana as a state plan to take some responsibility for itself and use the many many millions of dollars they have been given to rebuild post-Katrina? You can bet that the French Quarter and all those places frequented by Lousiana’s politicians and wealtheir stock are all restored to pristine condition. All those mansions and any insignificant damage they might have incurred are doing just fine thanks to Federal money, thank you. When it comes to politics and grant money, Louisiana is now and has always been a Black Hole where plenty of money goes in and nothing comes out. Billions of dollars were poured into this state and the money mysteriously never seemed to flow down to the places where the help is really needed. Meanwhile, looking for yet another handout to disperse into the pockets of more friends and relatives, Mr. Vitter is holding up the appointment of a stellar FEMA candidate just as Hurricane Season is about to hit.

Maybe David Vitter should be answering some questions instead of asking them, because this appointment hold-up smells of nothing short of just that: A Holdup.

I thought you might all like to see Fugate’s Biography.

A Floridian with over 28 years experience in emergency services, Craig has been involved in public service most of his adult life. Growing up in Alachua County, Craig was an active member of the Santa Fe High School Chapter of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) earning the American Farmer Degree. In addition to emergency management, Craig and his wife Sheree are avid sea kayakers with a web site dedicated to paddling in North Florida at http://www.seakayakflorida.com/.

Presentations:

• International Association of Emergency Managers Annual Conference – Florida’s Hurricane Response 2004
• Florida’s 2004 Storm Hot wash – Orlando, Fl

Awards

• Florida’s Distinguished Service Medal
• National Hurricane Conference Neil Frank Achievement Award
• Inducted into National Guard Hall of Fame

Hurricane Season 2004

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W. Craig FugateAs the Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Mr. Fugate oversees an agency with 138 full time. The Florida Division of Emergency Management coordinates disaster response, recovery, preparedness and mitigation efforts with each of the state’s 67 counties and local governments. In September 2003, the Florida Emergency Management Program became the first statewide emergency management program in the nation to receive full accreditation from the Emergency Management Accreditation Program.From volunteer firefighter, Paramedic, and Lieutenant with Alachua County Fire Rescue, his career in emergency services included serving 10 years as the Emergency Manager for Alachua County, Florida.In May of 1997, he was appointed Chief of the Bureau of Preparedness and Response with the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Over the next four years, the State of Florida faced numerous disasters while continuing to build a nationally recognized emergency management program. His role as the Chief of the State Emergency Response Team saw extensive action in 1998. Florida experienced the impacts of floods, tornadoes, wildfires, and Hurricane Georges resulting in over 200 days of activation for the State Emergency Response Team.In October of 2001, Governor Bush appointed Mr. Fugate to serve as Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. On December 18, 2006, Governor Elect Crist appointed Director Fugate to his administration, the role he continues today.2004 saw the largest response to disasters in Florida history with one tropical storm and four hurricanes (Charlie, Frances, Ivan, and Jean) impacting the State.2005 again was a record setting year for hurricanes, Florida was impacted by four hurricanes, three that made landfall, (Dennis, Katrina, and Wilma), and two tropical storms. Hurricane Katrina became the most costly natural disaster during its second landfall on the Louisiana and Mississippi Coast. Florida’s State Emergency Response Team launched the State’s largest mutual aid response under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact or EMAC in support of the impacted states. Hurricane Wilma made landfall on October 24 on Florida’s SW Coast becoming the 3rd costliest storm in Florida’s history.

From my blog.