As Katrina hit it was special interest business as usual

WASHINGTON, May 9, 2006 — On the day Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans, a former U.S. senator who had become a registered lobbyist was trying to get the nation's top emergency manager to schedule a meeting to complain about a no-bid contract that was heading to his client's competitor.

"I am certain you are overwhelmed by the situation regarding Hurricane Katrina. I apologize for bothering you at this critical time and for going directly to you about this," wrote former Sen. Tim Hutchinson (R-Ark.) "I would very much appreciate being able to bring the President of Blu-Med Response Systems, Gerritt Boyle, in to meet with you as soon as your schedule permits."

The e-mail message to Michael Brown, then head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, arrived only hours after the devastating storm first made landfall in the Gulf Coast, pummeling Louisiana and Mississippi with Category 3 hurricane winds.

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William Carwile, FEMA's coordinating officer in Mississippi, responded to Brown with frustration over the situation there, "I am afraid we have built expectations over the years that might not be achievable for this catastrophic event. Nevertheless, we are trying to do all we can."

As the media began to question Brown's qualifications to head the disaster relief agency, including his credentials as a past commissioner of the International Arabian Horse Association, he exchanged messages with Oklahoma friends trying to organize a counteroffensive to the criticism.