"Brown Blames 'Dysfunctional' Louisiana"

[dajoki]

ABC
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1163226

Brown Blames 'Dysfunctional' Louisiana Ex-FEMA Chief Brown Lays Much of Blame for Katrina Response on 'Dysfunctional' La. Leadership

By LARA JAKES JORDAN Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON Sep 27, 2005 — Former FEMA director Michael Brown aggressively defended his role in responding to Hurricane Katrina on Tuesday and put much of the blame for coordination failures on Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.

"My biggest mistake was not recognizing by Saturday that Louisiana was dysfunctional," Brown told a special congressional panel set up by House Republican leaders to investigate the catastrophe.

Brown's defense drew a scathing response from Rep. William Jefferson, D-La.

"I find it absolutely stunning that this hearing would start out with you, Mr. Brown, laying the blame for FEMA's failings at the feet of the governor of Louisiana and the Mayor of New Orleans."

Brown, who for many became a symbol of government failures in the natural disaster that claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people, rejected accusations that he was too inexperienced for the job.