Former FEMA directors consultants

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- The two former directors of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency might be in a position to help private contractors hoping to rebuild New Orleans.

Joe M. Allbaugh, President George W. Bush's 2000 campaign manager and FEMA director from 2001 to 2003, and James Lee Witt, who ran FEMA during former President Bill Clinton's administration, are high-priced consultants, reported the New York Times Saturday.

Allbaugh began New Bridge Strategies, a consulting firm for companies applying for reconstruction contracts in Iraq. In March 2005, he registered as a lobbyist on behalf of Kellogg, Brown and Root. Allbaugh told the Times he played no role in helping The Shaw Group or Kellogg get federal disaster work in New Orleans.

Witt is currently president of James Lee Witt Associates LLC which provides consulting on emergency and disaster preparedness to local and state governments.

Witt is advising Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco on disaster recover and relief.