Wind insurance vote possible

The Clarion-Ledger, 5/7/8

Gulf Coast lawmakers are expressing optimism that the Senate will vote this week on an amendment to add wind insurance coverage to the National Flood Insurance Program.

Sens. David Vitter, a Republican from Louisiana, Mary Landrieu, a Democrat from Louisiana, and Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker, both Republicans from Mississippi, joined forces earlier this year to hold up reauthorization of the flood insurance program, which insures homes owned by hundreds of thousands of coastal residents and others living on flood plains.

The senators said that the bill lacked provisions approved by the House – including one that would offer wind coverage to purchasers of flood insurance.