Gulf Coast Lawmakers Want To Change Nat’l Flood Bill

Florida Mississippi A bill to renew the national flood insurance program is expected to reach a final vote this week but not before lawmakers from Gulf Coast states try to rewrite it. As now drafted the bill does not allow the option of buying wind coverage.

by Billi House, Media General News Service, bhouse@tampatrib.com

Published: Wed, May 07, 2008 - 8:59 am CST Last Updated: Thu, July 31, 2008 - 12:27 am CST

WASHINGTON -- A Senate bill to renew the national flood insurance program is expected to reach a final vote this week, but not before lawmakers from Florida and other Gulf Coast states try to rewrite it.

As now drafted, the bill does not allow flood insurance customers an option of also buying wind coverage, unlike a version passed by the House last year over White House protests that it would be "fiscally irresponsible" to do so.

Even so, lawmakers from Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida are expected to press for votes in the Senate Wednesday (May 7) or Thursday on amendments to add the wind insurance to the Senate's bill, as well.

"As the 2008 hurricane season approaches, I believe we should not miss this opportunity to address the problem," said GOP Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi, referring to what he described as a lack of availability of affordable wind insurance for those living near the nation's coast lines.

Meanwhile, Florida's two senators, Democrat Bill Nelson and Republican Mel Martinez, are considering whether to offer a separate amendment to create a national catastrophic fund to help lower home insurance costs in areas hit by natural disasters, such as hurricanes.

Nelson already co-sponsors a bill to create a CatFund with a fellow Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, which mirrors legislation already passed in the U.S. House. Any changes in the national flood program could have an impact on Florida more than any other state.

The program includes 2.1 million policyholders in Florida - about 41 percent of its existing 5 million policy holders nationally.

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carl Says:

Wed, May 07, 2008 at 3:28 pm

YEP! We definitely need a good house cleaning of the state’s law makers as I stated about the other news article about letting these other bills die in the state senate,but since this one is in Washington I had higher hopes. Thats the way they usually work it,they give you hope before jerking the rug from under you.

asda Says:

Wed, May 07, 2008 at 3:09 pm

Well Carl if you noticed the other story about the Alabama Senate and our state insurance bill they are letting ALFA help write it. So my opinion would be they want the kickbacks and or money for re-election.

carl Says:

Wed, May 07, 2008 at 3:04 pm

Why aren’t Alabama’s law makers also pushing for this bill for wind coverage along with flood insurance to be passed in the senate?