In the fourth and final part of my Once upon a time in Chicago fairy tale trilogy, I will finally tie Sen. Norm Coleman into this sordid tale of lies, possible plagiarism, incorrect first aid training and lack of due diligence. Remember that this whole tale illustrates Norm's willingness and ability to conduct oversight. In other words, Norm is to oversight what bagels are to sushi ... they just don't mix. To recap ...
In Part I, a woman in Chicago founded a non-profit, Save A Life Foundation (SALF) to teach children proper emergency response training. Carol Spizzirri's motivation was her daughter bleeding to death after a hit-and-run accident at which the first responders didn't provide proper first aid. Unfortunately, this was not true. Her daughter died at a hospital from a one car accident ... she was driving drunk. Spizzirri also claimed to be a nurse, but has no degree and has never been a registered RN. In addition, SALF claims as to how many kids they've trained is disputed. Furthermore, a temp alleges they used an EMT manual to make their training manual. Plagiarism?
In Part II I related how despite all these questions about this organization, SALF remains in good standing with Homeland Security and FEMA to this day. On the Bush-Cheney-Rove principle of failing upwards, Bush honored this organization in early September 2008.
In Part III, I detailed how SALF is still pushing the Heimlich Maneuver as the primary way to unblock someone's blocked airway. Unfortunately, the Red Cross doesn't agree ... they prefer backslaps first and only the Heimlich if backslaps don't work.
As you may recall, SALF gained a tremendous amount of national support through the US Conference of Mayors. Senator Norm Coleman remains connected to the mayors as he was once one of them. In 2006, well before the ABC7 report came out, the mayors adopted The Community Response Security Act the Chrissy Act. In June, Norm introduced the CRSI Act in the Senate:
Earlier this year, the U.S. Conference of Mayors adopted the Community Response Systems Initiative (CRSI) Resolution, named in honor of Christina Spizzirri, committing their support to SALF as a foundation for emergency preparing their communities. Thereafter U.S. Senator Norm Coleman (MN), sponsored the “CRSI ACT” to assist in this initiative.
(SALF 2006 Annual Report PDF, p. ii)
The CRSI Act was written so that no other organization would qualify and SALF would be guaranteed $40 million a year. You can read the details of the bill here.
6/16/2006--Introduced.
Community Response System Initiative Act of 2006 or the CRSI Act - Directs the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), acting through the Chief Medical Officer, to enter into an agreement with an organization which shall provide funds to local governmental agencies that provide emergency response or similar medical services or training for education and training in life supporting first aid to children. Requires the selected organization to give priority to emergency medical services, fire departments, law enforcement agencies, hospitals, and school nurses.
Nobody signed on as a co-sponsor. This bill was written into the record, sent to committee and has languished there ever since. Why? The answer seems pretty obvious ... SALF wasn't worthy. This little morsel illustrates what has happened to SALF since ABC7's revelations:
In May 2007, SALF filed suit in Cook County (Illinois) Circuit Court against Baratz, Heimlich, and a Cincinnati blogger named Jason Haap for defamation. The suit alleged they were the TV station's primary sources and included charges of unspecified economic damages resulting from 11 severed relationships, including Homeland Security, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and Miami: "Save A Life had been working with the City of Miami, had a branch in the Miami mayor's office, and had been providing LFSA training in Miami-Dade schools.... As a proximate result of defendant's actions, the City of Miami has terminated its relationship with Save A Life."
(Miami New Times)
Did Norm do no due diligence on SALF?
Did he get surprised by ABC7's revelations?
Calls were made, including to the foundation, Homeland Security officials and Coleman’s office. Some questions came to mind, for which the answers might have promptly dispelled any speculation that something strange had occurred:
-- Did Coleman author the legislation with the foundation in mind?
-- Since lawmakers like to talk about how they help their constituents, did Coleman believe Minnesota children could benefit from the legislation?
-- Did Coleman or federal officials make sure Save A Life did not get federal funds after news reports suggested the group’s leadership had made false claims? Certainly that itself would be newsworthy, particularly given the public’s interest in congressional spending.
Homeland Security officials responded to an initial inquiry, but clammed up when asked about Save A Life Foundation. There was nothing more to discuss, they said.
The foundation’s leader, Carol Spizzirri, would not return repeated calls.
Even the office of Coleman's Democratic opponent, Al Franken, had heard of Save A Life Foundation but refused to talk about the issue.
Surely Coleman, a Republican locked in a fierce re-election battle, would be willing to explain the issue.
The senator’s press secretary, LeRoy Coleman (no relation to the senator), said the proposed program was benign and, as happens occasionally, just never got off the ground. He said liberals were trying to smear Coleman by suggesting a connection between the senator and the controversial Save A Life Foundation.
The spokesman would not grant an interview with Coleman, arguing there was no legitimate story because nothing unusual happened.
That may be, but it’s hard for the public to decide that when left with so many unanswered questions.
(DL-Online)
What this sordid tale illustrates is Norm Coleman's beliefs and practices in regards to oversight. Norm looks pretty bad sponsoring the CRSI Act after ABC7 exposed them. Did Norm do any due diligence on this organization? Likely not. Why do I assert this? Norm's track record.
Norm only believes in oversight in these limited circumstances:
- No Republicans will be hurt.
- It is a person or institution that Republicans hate.
- The person or institution has been already thrown under the bus.
Remember that Norm was the Chair of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. He could issue subpoenas to anyone and haul them before his committee. Norm rarely did it. Using the above guidelines, Norm has not investigated the following:
- Intel reports on WMD's
- Dispersal of the Iraqi Army
- NSA's secret wiretapping program
- Cronyism in appointments in Provisional Govt
- Torture at Abu Ghraib
- No bid contracts
- Billions of dollars of State Department cash disappearing in Iraq
- Corruption among contracting companies in Iraq
- Poorly constructed facilities built by contractors
- Contaminated water drunk and used by troops
- Abuses committed by contracting companies in Iraq
- Production problems for MRAP vehicles
- Wrong or not enough armor for troops and their vehicles
- Death of Pat Tillman
- Lies surrounding abduction and rescue of Jessica Lynch
- Overcharges among contracting companies in Iraq
- Guantanamo
- Jack Abramoff's influence at the White House
- Forced prostitution and forced abortions in the Mariana's Islands
If you consider this laundry list, why would Norm perform due diligence on an organization like SALF? He certainly didn't ask any questions about no-bid contracts, torture at Abu Ghraib or shoddy construction in Iraq. His behavior with SALF just follows a familiar pattern.