James Lee Witt works for Louisiana; to lobby for Allstate

WASHINGTON (AP) - The former FEMA director hired by Louisiana to help lead its Hurricane Katrina recovery effort has registered to lobby for an insurance company that wants Congress to create a natural disaster "catastrophe fund."
James Lee Witt and his firm, James Lee Witt Associates, registered Tuesday to lobby for Allstate Insurance Co. Their mission: "to draft and introduce model legislation creating a natural disaster catastrophe fund," the registration says.
Witt's lobbying for the fund comes while he's on the payroll of the state of Louisiana. Gov. Kathleen Blanco hired him earlier this month as a consultant to advise her on the state's hurricane relief work.
Witt headed the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the Clinton administration. His Washington firm lobbies on disaster issues for several clients.
Witt's experience at FEMA was among the reasons Allstate hired him, company spokesman Michael Trevino said.
"He's an expert," Trevino said...