WASHINGTON — Louisiana’s two senators vowed Tuesday to continue the battle to delay rate hikes in flood insurance policies after a Pennsylvania lawmaker blocked a vote on their bipartisan amendment.
“This is an issue that isn’t going to go away,’’ said Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu, who introduced the amendment.
Her proposal would have delayed rate increases for some National Flood Insurance Program policy-holders for five years.
The amendment was one of several proposed as part of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which authorizes water projects, flood protection and navigation programs. The Senate is expected to vote Wednesday on legislation to renew the act.
Landrieu said she will introduce a separate measure within days.
“We will visit this issue again,’’ said Republican Sen. David Vitter, a co-sponsor of the amendment and co-author of the water bill. “It is vitally important that we get it right. Not just for tens of thousands of folks from Louisiana, but for millions .across the country.’’
Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, opposed the amendment, calling it “very troubling.’’
He said Congress passed a measure 10 months ago “to diminish the subsidization that occurs now where homeowners in low-risk areas are made to subsidize homeowners in high- risk areas.”
He said the National Flood Insurance Program is already $24 billion in debt.
“This will continue and jeopardize taxpayer funds,’’ he said.
Vitter criticized Toomey’s stance in comments on the Senate floor, noting that Toomey has advocated letting lawmakers offer amendments and vote on them.
“I don’t think any member should object just to having a vote on a matter,’’ Vitter said. “He objects to even having a vote on a particular amendment he doesn’t like. You can’t have it both ways.’’
Landrieu expressed similar sentiments.
“He most certainly is entitled to vote no on our amendment, but I want the record to show that Sen. Toomey won’t even let us have a vote,’’ she said. “This is a shame that we can't even get a vote to postpone these flood rate increases to try to see if we could make flood insurance more affordable.’’
Landrieu pleaded with colleagues to support the amendment, which she said would give temporary relief to thousands of people on the Gulf Coast and in other regions, including the Northeast, which was hard hit by Superstorm Sandy.
“Give us a little breathing room to figure this out,’’ Landrieu said on the Senate floor. “I believe this program would be self-sustaining... I am sure we can put our heads together and come up with something.’’
Landrieu said people who would benefit from the measure include farmers and fishermen living near the water.
The National Flood Insurance Program has traditionally charged premiums at about 40-45 percent of their full cost, with taxpayers subsidizing the rest. Under a reform law passed last year, premiums are set to rise 25 percent each year for four years to make up for deficits caused by massive storms such as Hurricane Katrina and to bring the program more in line with its real costs.
Democratic Sens. Robert Menendez of New Jersey and New York Charles Schumer of New York supported the amendment.
Some government watchdog groups, however, opposed it.
Steve Ellis, vice president for Taxpayers for Common Sense, said the amendment would “roll back’’ rate increases approved by Congress last year.
He said that wouldn’t make sense for a program that takes in about $3.5 billion in premiums a year but owes $30 billion to taxpayers, “so we need to charge appropriate rates.’’
“We’re talking about a program that’s severely, severely in debt to the taxpayer, and delaying the rate increases... is completely the wrong way to go,’’ Ellis said.
Written by: Deborah Barfield Berry, Gannett Washington Bureau
Original Publication URL: http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20130515/NEWS01/130514032/Louisiana-lawmakers-vow-fight-again-flood-insurance-measure
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