[StBernard] [LANDRIEU] Daily Advertiser Backs Push to Make Road Home Whole

[Westley Annis]

December 28, 2007

 

Daily Advertiser Backs Push to Make Road Home Whole
Landrieu and Vitter "standing strong" in face of pressure to increase flood
insurance premiums.

 

WASHINGTON - In an editorial published today, the Lafayette, La., Daily
Advertiser supported efforts by U.S. Senators Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., and
David Vitter, R-La., to free up $1.17 billion from bureaucratic red tape and
make it available to augment the Road Home program and help homeowners
elevate their homes.  

The legislation appeared headed for passage in the U.S. Senate - with 99 of
100 Senators consenting to its approval - in the days before the Christmas
holiday.  However, a last-minute objection blocked the bill's consideration
until late January at the earliest.  Senator Richard Shelby, R-Ala., said he
held up the bill because of both Louisiana senators' opposition to
legislation that would dramatically increase flood insurance premiums for
Louisiana homeowners and businesses.

The Daily Advertiser wrote today that it favors "the elevation funding bill
and [is] leery of the Shelby premium increase."  The paper urged readers to
"play a role in passing a measure beneficial to our state" and help lobby in
support of the Landrieu-Vitter effort.

The full text of the Daily Advertiser editorial appears below.

Alabama-Louisiana battle is under way

Louisiana and Alabama lawmakers have locked horns in the U.S. Senate. The
battle pits Louisiana Sens. Mary Landrieu, a Democrat, and David Vitter, a
Republican, against Sen. Richard Shelby, an Alabama Republican. It all began
when Shelby submitted a bill calling for the overhaul of the nation's flood
insurance program.

Landrieu and Vitter objected to the Shelby bill because it would raise
insurance premiums by 25 percent on businesses, second homes and homes that
repeatedly flood. 

The legislation, the senators said, would price many Louisiana homeowners
and businesses out of the program.

Rather than risk a vote on the measure, they put a hold on it. That blocks
it from being considered.

Then the plot thickened. Landrieu and Vitter are championing a bill that
would free another $1.2 billion for Louisiana's Road Home program. The funds
would provide grants of up to $30,000 apiece to Louisiana residents whose
homes were battered by Hurricane Katrina. The grants would be used to
elevate the homes.

Under current Federal Emergency Management Agency rules, property owners
must make the improvements first and then be reimbursed. The proposal by the
Louisiana senators would simply allow the state to begin making allocations
to the homeowners before they begin elevating their homes.

We support the measure. Shelby probably would support such legislation for
his Alabama constituents, but he is angry. Just before adjournment for the
holidays, he put a hold on the Landrieu-Vitter legislation to keep it from
being considered.

Both sides are standing strong. Shelby asked that his bill be allowed to
come up for unanimous consent of the Senate, avoiding a vote. Landrieu said
he offered her "a deal with the devil" that she could not accept.

The Landrieu-Vitter legislation has been moving well through the process.
The $1.2 billion is already there, waiting to be doled out to those in
Louisiana who want to protect their homes from flooding.

State officials have already applied for the money on behalf of eligible
Road Home recipients.

If enacted, the Landrieu-Vitter bill will complete Louisiana's application
process for federal Road Home money. Last month, Congress approved $3
billion to cover the outstanding shortfall in the program.

It could all be going into effect now had Shelby stood aside and let it
pass.

Before Shelby erected the barrier, the Louisiana senators expected the
legislation to clear the Senate by unanimous consent. When the Senate
returns in January, Landrieu and Vitter believe they can get it before their
colleagues and win approval. The response from other Senators has been
positive thus far.

We favor the elevation funding bill and are leery of the Shelby premium
increase. At this time, Landrieu and Vitter could probably use some moral
support in the form of letters or phone calls. Consider providing that. Play
a role in passing a measure beneficial to our state.

- 30 -