Childers Tele-Town Hall; Taylor's Insurance Bill

You can call in to Childer's Tele-Town Hall Tuesday night:

U.S. Rep. Travis Childers will hold a live Tele-Town Hall Tuesday night to discuss the positive impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on Mississippi’s First District. The Recovery Act was signed into law on Feb. 17. After his remarks, Childers, a Democrat, will take questions from participants. At 7 p.m. CT, Childers will call constituents to invite them, at no cost to the caller, to participate in the live event. Constituents should remain on the line to be instantly connected to the live Tele-Town Hall. The public may also participate by using the following call-in information: 1-877-229-8493, Passcode: 13909#, Participant Pin: 1.

Gene Taylor is reintroducing his multi-peril bill:

U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Bay St. Louis, plans this week to once again introduce a bill that would add wind insurance to the National Flood Insurance Program.

Last year the bill passed the House but stalled in the Senate Banking Committee.

Critics dislike Taylor’s plan because, they say, the flood program already is weighted with debt and other problems. They believe the addition of wind coverage would only exacerbate those problems.

Taylor said he is counting on continued support from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who visited Bay St. Louis along with Taylor and other House members for an insurance forum.

Taylor said several House allies have now moved over to the Senate.

Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama, the ranking Republican on the Banking Committee where the measure stalled in 2008, remains opposed to wind coverage through NFIP. Committee Chair Chris Dodd of Connecticut had pledged to work toward a solution, but Taylor said they have not conferred lately because Dodd has been caught up in issues over the economic crisis.

When he was campaigning in the South, then–Sen. Barack Obama said he supports the concept of wind coverage in the flood program, but only if the legislation encourages responsible development.

Martin said the bill encourages responsible development in two ways: Premiums are risk-based, not subsidized; and, to participate, communities must build to code recommendations.

Insurance executives from The Travelers Cos. have proposed an alternative coastal zone plan to provide coverage through the private market. Under the plan the federal government would sell to the insurance companies, at cost, reinsurance that would help them cover catastrophic losses.

But Taylor doesn’t see the solution in the private market. “I think we have the best solution,” he said.

Briefly, Gene Taylor understands the Marines desire for the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle but wants to see "more protection against IEDs on the vehicle before it goes into production."

The Vicksburg Post criticizes Travis Childers for trying to be both for and against spending, "The votes make him appear to be a big spender who’s against big spending unless, of course, it’s in his district. Some people have problems being for things they are against or against things they are for. But apparently it doesn’t take long to learn the ways of Washington, where that has never been a problem."