Ala, governor praises former FEMA chief (Brownie)

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/nation/13123592.htm

Ala, governor praises former FEMA chief

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Alabama Gov. Bob Riley won gushing praise Wednesday from his former House colleagues for the way his state handled Hurricane Katrina, a dramatic contrast to the criticism directed at federal and Louisiana officials.

While Riley asked Congress to give states more flexibility - and money - when it comes to hurricane relief, he also defended Michael Brown, the former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Several lawmakers on the select panel investigating hurricane preparation vilified Brown at a September hearing for the delayed federal response.

"I had his cell phone; he had mine," said Riley, a Republican who left Congress to run for governor in 2002. "There was just a constant communication."

Riley said he and Brown spoke three to six times a day after the hurricane. He also talked to Homeland Security Michael Chertoff daily and President Bush at least three times, Riley said.