This is completely unacceptable. You mean to tell me this man has never voted for anything that wasn’t clearly funded? Yeah OK. Meanwhile, people have to be worried about their coverage. Let’s hope they get their heads back in the sunshine soon.
Finally! a Senator with a backbone! Find a way to pay for the program first before re-authorizing. Fiscal responsibility is coming to Washington! Liberals need to make cuts to their pet projects to fund worthwhile programs like National Flood Insurance.
I don’t disagree with you but who suffers while he stands on his principles? They know about these deadlines way in advance and they are so busy arguing that they get nothing accomplished. You bet you bottom that if the Flood Program was included on a Bill that he was in favor of, he’d vote yes. I bet he doesn’t live in a flood zone.
Hi agree fully with Insurance Guy. It is certainly about time someone stopped the process so that funding could be hashed out before bills are passed. While I understand that he is not running for re-election and have no idea if he would have taken the same stand if he were, the ends may justify the means. I know this is a tangent, but we need term limits. Reid says temporarily pass it…the problem with this is, it is pushed to the back burner and the issue is not resolved. Do you think they will focus on funding the bill if they have pushed the can down the road another month? I doubt it. Reid needs to go.
Though we definitely need to be fiscally responsible, I agree w/Ins Girl NY that letting these programs lapse only hurts so many Americans that need them. REALLY NEED them.
And dont get in to that Liberal/Conservative garbage. BOTH sides have pushed their own agendas and interests for probably as long as we’ve been a country. I agree that the short-term extensions are not the way to solve the problem, but neither is letting it lapse.
DS, maybe Bunning taking a stand is exactly what we need to make changes to the broken system. I understand your point about both parties pushing their own agendas, but what is the impetus for change and when does it begin? If not now, when? What would you suggest? Let us see the result of Bunning’s dissent. Will it be the same old same old, or will he turn out to be a hero after all.
We better start worrying about how we are going to pay for things. Washington is throwing money at anything and everything except where it is really needed without regard of the repercussions. There will be radical if not disastrous repercussions. Bailing out the fat cats, pork projects. Somebody better realize the TRUE size of multi-trillions.
I agree that we can’t continue to spend money we don’t have however they were aware of the deadline and did nothing. But let some ball player take steriods or let the BCS keep Utah out of the Nat’l title game and that’s a real Gubment issue to deal with. Idiots.
smacmo—try explaining fiscal responsibility to the current administration. Good luck with that. What’s bothersome is that they just don’t get it. I don’t understand why I get it and they don’t. Am I missing something here? If so, somebody please explain it to me. Laymen’s terms please.
Good that they missed the deadline and did nothing and that Bunning finally grew a set. Again, maybe good will come of this. If they had just passed the bill as they usually do w/o consideration for how to pay for it, would we be having this robust debate?
Agreed with DS and Ins Girl. Normally I would be agreeing with Insurance Guy, but the thing is only responisble people pay for flood insurance. So now, if a flood happens, the flood victims are going to be crying for the government to pay for their house, so that premium that they were collecting on flood insurance won’t be coming in. I understand the Senator’s mindset, but he should have picked something else, because I beleive that not renewing the Flood Insurance Plan is more fiscally irresponsible. But I do have to give the senator props for having backbone and sticking up for his convictions.
They have now stopped the flow of premiums, even though they may be inadequate, and the responsible people buying flood insurance can no longer buy it. If a flood occurs, one would think that the premium paying folks would be serviced and those who don’t pay premium would be left “holding the bag.” A perfect example of this is the subject that just won’t go away, Hurricane Katrina. All of those people wanted, and many received, payments from FEMA for their property without ever paying a premium. It should be a rare occasion that a person collects from the government when there is insurance available. The congress should immediately reinstate the NFIP and for a lot longer period than one month.
TX, when one does not have flood insurance and suffers a flood, why does the gov’t even get involved? Does the gov’t rebuild with no responsibility on the part of the homeowner to repay, ever? I thought in catastrophic flood situations the gov’t would step in, but for those w/o ins it is a loan and not a grant. Set me straight on this.
Let’s be clear, someone not up for re-election is causing a real dilemma for countless Americans, for no reason other than to spite the administration.
They are NOT talking about a long term renewal of these programs. They’re talking about a 30-day extension to keep a huge mess from happening (which it is).
This just goes to demonstrate how out of touch these GOP dinosaurs are and how much they could care less about the plight of “main street America” despite what they might vomit out of their face-mounted bungholes.
Matt, You are missing the main point. It comes down to taking baby steps to fix a broken system. We have to start some where. I again ask, if the bill had passed, do you think anything at all about the disfunctional system would change? Chances are, nothing will change now, but Bunning planted the seeds of dissent and maybe, just maybe, courage will slowly grow within those who agree with him but are afraid not to go with the status quo.
I’ve met Jim Bunning and I am here to say that he’s a good leader and a stand up kind of guy.
This is an excellent example of what can happen when re-election is out of the question, so here’s one in favor of term limits.
This will be passed shortly – we all know it will. However, we also know that we’ve got to start getting our spending in check. Just like stopping a car on a slick road, you’ve got to tap the brakes rather than slam them on.
Tinkerbell; would it not be better to have the premium paid for flood insurance to help pay for the losses than to have no premium and the government pay 100% of all flood claims for everyone. I agree there is no money available for these federal programs but does the Obamanation administration let that stop them from spending trillions of dollars that they borrow from other contries or just avoid taking a loan and just print counterfeit money. If we do that, we go directly to jail. Get real!
Birdman, you sound like you are happy with the status quo. Maybe the feds should not get involved at all in helping those rebuild who do not have flood insurance in effect at time of loss. If we were less of a nanny state, people would be more inclined to take steps to protect their assets. Now, the mindset is, why buy it, when the gov’t will bail me out if something catastrophic happens.
Tinkerbell, The reason for buying coverage is responsibility and 5.6 million policyholders have bought coverage and possibily don’t have the government handout mentality that so many have in my state and many others.
Birdman, you highlight one of the problems with the current system; when the bill is held up in Congress, as it is today, those responsible parties who have paid for coverage lose if they experience a loss during the hold up period. And how do we solve this? Unfortunately, it will take more than faith, trust and a sprinkling of pixie dust to solve these problems!
This bill was supposed to expire several times before this deadline,they just keep putting it off. “Congress has not paid for these extensions” Thank God Bunning said enough is enough. They need to do their jobs and find a solution already.
Well, 2 of my pending new clients will now not have their closing tomorrow unless this gets cleared up. Politicians are politicians…if this senator was sooo concerned about government spending, where the hell was he while the prior administration ran up hugh foreign debt that did not leave when the administration left??? Too much spending and not enough regulation went on and now the minority party wants to hold the country hostage while they try to score political points… don’t pay with the closings…people buying homes are helping the economy!!! Lame duck legislators should not be allowed to hold up any legislation.
We must all step outside of ourselves & consider the big picture. Even though some closings may not take place, this may improve the system for all of us…for the greater good.
So now we see people from several industries being damaged by their lack of action and we’re all just supposed to suck it up for the good of change? How many lives need to be wrecked before people start seeing THAT big picture? Our economy will come to a grinding hault before they do anything about it and we’re all just supposed to accept that? I don’t think so.
It’s not logical that a federal program like flood insurance should have an end date that has to be voted on. Does Medicare have an end date? Does Social Security have an end date? Does Amtrak have an end date (Wish it was yes!)…We either have the program or we don’t. If we think it’s becoming too expensive, than we revise the benefits or increase the premiums. How simple is that?!?
It’s also not logical that different programs can be thrown together for a single vote. This particular republican had more of an issue with the extension of unemployment than the flood insurance program. Yet, consumers (those who still have jobs and homes…and can afford insurance), bear the brunt of the our politicians playing stupid games and making things so complicated they can’t get anything done. KISS!!!
Part D. was and still is not funded. Unless you consider deficit spending to be a source of funding. But, I guess the elderly vote was too valuable a group to curry up to vs. the groups in question here. Remember who was in charge when Part D. was enacted and who is the loudest to scream about the deficit now…
Or when the sob stories are going to start? Like the woman who is wearing her dead sister’s dentures and now can’t close on a house that she can’t afford…
So refusing a 30-day extension on COBRA, unemployment, and NFPA is how we should make our stand against spending?
Rather than, say, not engaging in two debt-financed wars simultaneously?
Where are our priorities? We’ve got no problem spending a trillion dollars to date on two wars, but we draw the line at a 30-day extension of programs which benefit Americans? (Such as unemployement benefits in a steep recession).
We can give $700 billion to banks with no rules or oversight, but we can’t give the people who lost jobs on account of those same banks’ actions unemployment benefits?
Without unanimous consent, congress must adhere to the law. The Communists made a big deal of PayGo, then suspend it everytime rather than obey it. Now a Republican wants them to obey their own law, and Harry Reid cries about immorality.
Congress better do something to help these people. They helped AIG and yet they did not find time to place these programs on their agenda. Unemployed Amercian’s need help. We have benefit concerts, fund rasiers etc to help the poor people of Haiti. I feel sorry for these people however we have people in the United States living in their cars with their children. Charity starts at home. I’m frankly sick of not helping our own citizens.
Do you think we can tell the banks that there is not flood program so they can’t ask for something we can’t buy? Hmmm.
How do you explain to the people who pay thousands into a flood policy that the program is so far in debt it is almost inside out?
I think Flood should be covered under the homeowners and/or business property insurance. It should be included like some of the other coverages that are included in these package policies that some people use and some don’t; this way we can spread the cost all over instead of hammering certain people.
Margaret, why should everyone pay for someone that has a million plus dollar home on the beach. The government has paid to rebuild these homes over and over again.
Here’s a radical idea – Sen. Bunning can stand up in the Senate, give a speech, try and persuade 50 other senators to not vote for a bill that isn’t funded, and see what happens.
He didn’t “grow a set” like one of the earlier postings said – he’s using an obscure procedural rule to block a vote instead of letting all senators weigh in and then defend their record at re-election time.
That isn’t courage, ethics, integrity or whatever. It’s called extortion.
I just have to say there are several problems…banks require flood to give loans specifically because their lawyers say to…so it can’t be waived when you’re trying to close on a house you just bought or sold…and hope this all gets straight so those that bought or sold can close in time to still get their $6500 or $8000…this could cause even more major issues for people…
Linda – If you are sick of not helping those less fortunate, than what’s stopping you from doing something yourself? I do my fair share and feel no guilt about the government’s failure to act. If we all did our fair share voluntarily, the government wouldn’t have to act.
Point well taken. I do as much as I can to volunteer. But I’m sure I could do more. I just hate to see people trying to find jobs and can’t. I feel fortunate to have a job. Most of these people don’t want a free ride they just want to survive until things get better.
Quote”I just have to say there are several problems…banks require flood to give loans specifically because their lawyers say to…”
Kind of. The lender is requiring flood insurance on houses in special flood hazard areas because …guess what…the government requires it! If the gov finds out a bank has a loan on a house in a SFHA and there isn’t insurance the bank gets fined $$$. During this time how does the gov require something that isn’t available?
I think the government should be helping people out with extended unemployment and Cobra benefits, so we don’t make a big problem worse when the market resources are scarce.
Exactly! It doesn’t make sense! Why do we have to “renew” the funding of a flood insurance program? We either have one or we don’t, and if we don’t, we need to ensure there is a market place substitute product. But you can’t undo one end and not the other. It makes no sense!
Good for Senator Jim Bunning.I liked him as a Detroit Tiger and I like him still. Someone is actually getting serious and honoring the Democrats pay-go bill.The Democrats don’t seem to honor there own bill, but Senator Bunning is calling their bluff.
He got all of our attention to a very serious issue. Run away spending, actually out of control spending. There won’t be any harm done, just a little inconvenience. If we were to have a catastrophic flood in the next day or two we all know the government would step in, and take care of the situation, and probably find a way to transfer the funds.
the elderely who need treatment, will still get treatments from their doctor today
As far an unemployment some people need it, but some are milking the system. Case in point I have a family member who is in his 50’s and stays at his parents house. He never works more than he has to for unemployment benefits. He has done this for years. He laughs and jokes everytime there is an extension. I am sure he is not the only one who has learned to ride the Gravy Train of our government handouts. I am not suggesting that the majority of the unemployed are like my family member, but there are way too many people riding the gravy train.
Our government system has grown to be a true Nanny state. Take from the hard working Americans to give to those who choose a different lifestyle.
Yes things will be as normal tomorrow or the following day. It was just refreshing to have someone in Congress stand up and say enough all ready. Let’s get serious about this over spend and over tax those who are hard working Americans.
Agent from AZ – Why don’t you report your family member to the unemployment board in your state? I am sure there are plenty just like him, being coddled by family members like yourself, and pushing the cost off on hard-working citizens. It’s your fault as much as it is his. Your family member will be a much better human being and member of society when he learns the value of taking care of himself.
JMHO makes a good point; there are many that milk the system and we all pay for it. There is no accountability. It’s human nature to take if it’s there, especially as it relates to entitlement programs. Once unemployment benefits are extended, people automatically relax job hunting activities b/c they know they have funds coming in and they don’t have to work for. Why find a job and lose free money?
I agree!! Turn in your family member. His parents should be proud of the great job they have done. Basically teaching their kid to steal. I would have no problem turning in one of my family members. They should have a hot line to report these criminals. JMHO, I would volunteer at the hot-line. I guess i was raised by ok parents. My sister was kicked out of the house when she called in sick when she wasn’t sick. My parents took things to extreme howver I was the youngest and it stuck with me.
Xerxes is right about human nature unless the human is raised to value hard work and independence. But times are extraordinarily tough now, for both the good guy and the bad guy. The true unemployment rate is probably 3 – 4 times higher than under the best of circumstances, so benefits need to be extended to help those who ordinarily help themselves, and will still want to help themselves even if the benefits are extended. The question is: How do we tell the good guys from the bad guys? You can’t, and it’s not fair to punish the good because of the bad.
Have we cut business taxes yet? Let’s create jobs at companies that provide health insurance, and knock out both issues with a market-based solution.
I will volunteer at the Hot Line with you! I think your parents raised you just fine. Re you sister: It probably wasn’t the only thing she had done to deserve the kick out the door. How is she doing today?
Meanwhile I can’t wait to see how the new crop of ADHD medicated citizens survive in the real world.
Is what my family member doing the right thing. of course not. Is it ethical not in my opinion, however is it illegal? Not at all. Please don’t tell me you don’t know anyone who takes advantage of our government’s system, because it is so rampant I believe you do.
I find it interesting that a Republican derailed the vote in question over the funding issue…During the previous administration and Republican Senate and Congress, we started 2 major wars (rightly issue aside)and a new agency (Dept of Homeland Security) without having the money to pay for it while also cutting taxes. If it were not China floating our debt during that time, we would have hit Federal Bankruptcy..
So, I find it interesting how funding only comes up when…..
Agent from AZ – I am one fortunate human being, so I have a long-winded response. I read your challenge and I forced myself to think about it. You see, I have a huge family. I am one of 7. My father is one of 7. My mother is one of 11. I am 50 years old. There are 50 first cousins (most older than me), never mind second and third cousins. I have more friends than I know how to keep up with high school, college, grad school, jobs). I have a private coaching business with clients. So it took some time to actually think about all of these channels of people I know.
I can tell you honestly that I don’t know of anyone that I am related to that takes advantage of “the system.” There is, however, one “tree limb” of the family that I would suspect capable of taking advantage of the family, and probably does, although I have no proof what so ever. I don’t live in the same state as they do, and I have very little contact with them – mostly funerals. I can safely say that none of my friends or clients are taking advantage of the system, or they wouldn’t be my friend/client and they know that about me.
I am proud of my ethical standards and my expectations of others. People like to associate with ethical people because they know they can be trusted. I think I am quite ordinary in my beliefs. And it’s what most people want for themselves. When someone is behaving unethically, it’s because they lack the belief that they can succeed if they behaved ethically. They need to cheat to win. How sad.
Legality has nothing to do with ethics. When you mix the two up, you are no longer able to see right from wrong.
Anyone wanting information on the NFIP can go to http://bsa.nfipstat.com.
Look under WYO Company Bulletins / Previous Bulletins / W-09068
This bulletin explains what will and will not occur during the lapse.
This bulletin is referenced in Bulletin W-10014 that was issued on 2/26/09.
This site is the best place for insurance professionals to get correct information on the NFIP.
JMHO,
Your last comment goes back to the philosophical but real questions Is everything ethical legal? Is everything legal ethical? They are not necessarily and often are not synonymous.
It is interesting to hear about your family, since you want to judge. Let me tell you a little about me. I hold three college degrees (one bachelors and two masters). I am an adjunct professor, besides owning my own insurance agency for 27 years. I serve on several community and professional volunteer boards, and I could go on about accomplishments in life, but I won’t bore you. I pay a lot in taxes and have for years, as you probably do. By far most of my family members, friends and aqaintances do not take advantage of the system,because if they did they wouldn’t be friends and close aquaintences. As I stated in our system what my family member does in my opinion is not ethical, but it is not illegal.
Let me restate it he works for a year at a time, he does turn in his paperwork as he makes three contacts a month to find new work. He fulfills all the requirements. It is done over the internet. He is not interested in finding new work as the jobs he gets pay just over minimum wage. He loves the unemployment system. When his unemployment runs out I am sure he will do more than the minimum to get a new job, and he will find a job. This scenario is not as unusual as you are making it out to be. Multiply this across the nation. Now include welfare, and the illegal population where we fund 40% of those here illegally.
Agent from TX – It sounds like you have a pretty wide net of contacts as well. I agree with you on probably all of your points – it’s not unusual to say that we are all either related to or know someone who is abusing the system. I never meant it to be interpreted as unusual that this occurs. I agree with you 100% about the huge issue we have with people taking advantage of the system. It’s horrible, and we haven’t touched on welfare or illegals. But, we have to teach and value ethical behavior, and I’m just saying you could do more to help your family member by encouraging him to not take advantage of the system.
But think of how much Billy Tauzin loves his mother! How dare you suggest that the federal government shouldn’t pay full retail price to the pharma’s for her medication?
Don’t you just LOVE the hypocracy? Unfunded Medicare Part D, Unfunded Iraq war, Unfunded Afghan war, and the “tea party” slumbers under the sagelike wisdom of ole’ dubya. But a 30 day extension on unemployment benefits? Call McCarthy I smell COMMUNISTS!
I say good for Sen. Bunning! This bill shows what’s wrong with congress and the system. Flood Insurance extention should not be buried inside a “jobs” bill or with COBRA issues. While Congress and this president is spending money we don’t have, good for Bunning for sticking it to all members of Congress, irrespective of party affiliation. Flood insurance coverage should have been a bill on it’s own and discussed/debated.
This problem is another reason why the Federal government should not be in the insurance and retirement business. Every time the federal government establishes an insurance program for the benefit of its citizens it becomes another cash cow for the government to sifon its assets.
Name any government insurance or retirement program and it has been either underfunded or has had its assets stolen by the bureaucrats in Washington, DC.
The federal flood insurance program is closed to new business and increases in coverage. The real question should be the where are the insurance reserves. The federal government does not have an unlimited money supply. With record deficits into the future and a nearly 18 trillion in national debt (excludes state and local government debts), it will only take one major earth equake event in California to paralysis our nation’s finances.
Our elected officials have shown they are untrustworthy with our money. Every employer and employee has been embezzled from by their bureaucracy. The employer matches the social security contribution of its employees. Yet, the employees’ portion is the only amount that actually goes into the social security program. The employer’s portion is paid into the general fund.
If you are a senoir, imagine having twice the amount of your current Social Security check.
And, something is really fishes with the Security Exchange Commission. Ole Bernie Madolf was sent to Butner federal prison for 150 leisurely years for stealing billions. Several years ago, the Federal courts sent William Shackleford to Atlanta federal prison for surposely stealing 30 million. It was later reported Wachovia Bank paid 17 million and 13.6 million was paid by his reinsured to the NC Department of Insurance under Mr. James E. Long. Mr. Madolf must have greases some palms…
Currently, I would rather have my health insurance written on a Lloyd’s product than our US Government proposed Heathcare plan.
Mike–WE DIDN’T START THE WARS!!! WE WERE ATTACKED! Granted, we weren’t directly attacked by Iraq, but even you would have to agree that their people are better off with Saddam.
You know Wally it’s amazing how this issue is now linked to the two wars we are in. If you want to go down that old road, you were right we were attacked and we are still under attack today by islamic fundamentalists. And now another issue arises by Congressional leadership (well so-called leadership) and this administration. Irresponsible spending, debt out of sight, spending money we don’t have and Obama’s fiscal ideology of socializing America. And despite the overwhelming majority of Americans who don’t want government takeover of healthcare, Obama is going to use the reconciliation provision to shove it through Congress. But hey it’s all Bush’s fault.
What do you know about how premiums are used? You pay for your neighbors lousy driving record each time your rates go up on your auto.
I think what Margaret is saying is that if it is a coverage that is included in our homeowners or business policy, like loss of use or business interuption, then the coverage will be available to everyone at a fairer price. And it will be an insurance coverage and not a government payment that you pay for in your taxes anyway , Lil.
This is completely unacceptable. You mean to tell me this man has never voted for anything that wasn’t clearly funded? Yeah OK. Meanwhile, people have to be worried about their coverage. Let’s hope they get their heads back in the sunshine soon.
Finally! a Senator with a backbone! Find a way to pay for the program first before re-authorizing. Fiscal responsibility is coming to Washington! Liberals need to make cuts to their pet projects to fund worthwhile programs like National Flood Insurance.
I don’t disagree with you but who suffers while he stands on his principles? They know about these deadlines way in advance and they are so busy arguing that they get nothing accomplished. You bet you bottom that if the Flood Program was included on a Bill that he was in favor of, he’d vote yes. I bet he doesn’t live in a flood zone.
Hi agree fully with Insurance Guy. It is certainly about time someone stopped the process so that funding could be hashed out before bills are passed. While I understand that he is not running for re-election and have no idea if he would have taken the same stand if he were, the ends may justify the means. I know this is a tangent, but we need term limits. Reid says temporarily pass it…the problem with this is, it is pushed to the back burner and the issue is not resolved. Do you think they will focus on funding the bill if they have pushed the can down the road another month? I doubt it. Reid needs to go.
Though we definitely need to be fiscally responsible, I agree w/Ins Girl NY that letting these programs lapse only hurts so many Americans that need them. REALLY NEED them.
And dont get in to that Liberal/Conservative garbage. BOTH sides have pushed their own agendas and interests for probably as long as we’ve been a country. I agree that the short-term extensions are not the way to solve the problem, but neither is letting it lapse.
DS, maybe Bunning taking a stand is exactly what we need to make changes to the broken system. I understand your point about both parties pushing their own agendas, but what is the impetus for change and when does it begin? If not now, when? What would you suggest? Let us see the result of Bunning’s dissent. Will it be the same old same old, or will he turn out to be a hero after all.
We better start worrying about how we are going to pay for things. Washington is throwing money at anything and everything except where it is really needed without regard of the repercussions. There will be radical if not disastrous repercussions. Bailing out the fat cats, pork projects. Somebody better realize the TRUE size of multi-trillions.
I agree that we can’t continue to spend money we don’t have however they were aware of the deadline and did nothing. But let some ball player take steriods or let the BCS keep Utah out of the Nat’l title game and that’s a real Gubment issue to deal with. Idiots.
smacmo—try explaining fiscal responsibility to the current administration. Good luck with that. What’s bothersome is that they just don’t get it. I don’t understand why I get it and they don’t. Am I missing something here? If so, somebody please explain it to me. Laymen’s terms please.
How long do you think before Obama blames Bush for this mess?
Good that they missed the deadline and did nothing and that Bunning finally grew a set. Again, maybe good will come of this. If they had just passed the bill as they usually do w/o consideration for how to pay for it, would we be having this robust debate?
Let’s hope Obama still pays us hundreds of millions of dollars in bonuses like he did the banks and Wall Street.
maybe if they put a scope or trigger on it they could have buried it in the defense funding bill.
Agreed with DS and Ins Girl. Normally I would be agreeing with Insurance Guy, but the thing is only responisble people pay for flood insurance. So now, if a flood happens, the flood victims are going to be crying for the government to pay for their house, so that premium that they were collecting on flood insurance won’t be coming in. I understand the Senator’s mindset, but he should have picked something else, because I beleive that not renewing the Flood Insurance Plan is more fiscally irresponsible. But I do have to give the senator props for having backbone and sticking up for his convictions.
They have now stopped the flow of premiums, even though they may be inadequate, and the responsible people buying flood insurance can no longer buy it. If a flood occurs, one would think that the premium paying folks would be serviced and those who don’t pay premium would be left “holding the bag.” A perfect example of this is the subject that just won’t go away, Hurricane Katrina. All of those people wanted, and many received, payments from FEMA for their property without ever paying a premium. It should be a rare occasion that a person collects from the government when there is insurance available. The congress should immediately reinstate the NFIP and for a lot longer period than one month.
You are 100% correct Birdman
TX, when one does not have flood insurance and suffers a flood, why does the gov’t even get involved? Does the gov’t rebuild with no responsibility on the part of the homeowner to repay, ever? I thought in catastrophic flood situations the gov’t would step in, but for those w/o ins it is a loan and not a grant. Set me straight on this.
Birdman, and where do you think the money will come from to fund the program? There isn’t any money anywhere for any program.
Let’s be clear, someone not up for re-election is causing a real dilemma for countless Americans, for no reason other than to spite the administration.
They are NOT talking about a long term renewal of these programs. They’re talking about a 30-day extension to keep a huge mess from happening (which it is).
This just goes to demonstrate how out of touch these GOP dinosaurs are and how much they could care less about the plight of “main street America” despite what they might vomit out of their face-mounted bungholes.
Matt, You are missing the main point. It comes down to taking baby steps to fix a broken system. We have to start some where. I again ask, if the bill had passed, do you think anything at all about the disfunctional system would change? Chances are, nothing will change now, but Bunning planted the seeds of dissent and maybe, just maybe, courage will slowly grow within those who agree with him but are afraid not to go with the status quo.
I’ve met Jim Bunning and I am here to say that he’s a good leader and a stand up kind of guy.
This is an excellent example of what can happen when re-election is out of the question, so here’s one in favor of term limits.
This will be passed shortly – we all know it will. However, we also know that we’ve got to start getting our spending in check. Just like stopping a car on a slick road, you’ve got to tap the brakes rather than slam them on.
Mr. Bunning is merely tapping the brakes for us.
Tinkerbell; would it not be better to have the premium paid for flood insurance to help pay for the losses than to have no premium and the government pay 100% of all flood claims for everyone. I agree there is no money available for these federal programs but does the Obamanation administration let that stop them from spending trillions of dollars that they borrow from other contries or just avoid taking a loan and just print counterfeit money. If we do that, we go directly to jail. Get real!
Birdman, you sound like you are happy with the status quo. Maybe the feds should not get involved at all in helping those rebuild who do not have flood insurance in effect at time of loss. If we were less of a nanny state, people would be more inclined to take steps to protect their assets. Now, the mindset is, why buy it, when the gov’t will bail me out if something catastrophic happens.
Tinkerbell, The reason for buying coverage is responsibility and 5.6 million policyholders have bought coverage and possibily don’t have the government handout mentality that so many have in my state and many others.
Birdman, you highlight one of the problems with the current system; when the bill is held up in Congress, as it is today, those responsible parties who have paid for coverage lose if they experience a loss during the hold up period. And how do we solve this? Unfortunately, it will take more than faith, trust and a sprinkling of pixie dust to solve these problems!
This bill was supposed to expire several times before this deadline,they just keep putting it off. “Congress has not paid for these extensions” Thank God Bunning said enough is enough. They need to do their jobs and find a solution already.
Now MY closing is delayed because we were signing on flood insurance at 3pm today. The senator, now my life is on hold!!!
Well, 2 of my pending new clients will now not have their closing tomorrow unless this gets cleared up. Politicians are politicians…if this senator was sooo concerned about government spending, where the hell was he while the prior administration ran up hugh foreign debt that did not leave when the administration left??? Too much spending and not enough regulation went on and now the minority party wants to hold the country hostage while they try to score political points… don’t pay with the closings…people buying homes are helping the economy!!! Lame duck legislators should not be allowed to hold up any legislation.
We must all step outside of ourselves & consider the big picture. Even though some closings may not take place, this may improve the system for all of us…for the greater good.
So now we see people from several industries being damaged by their lack of action and we’re all just supposed to suck it up for the good of change? How many lives need to be wrecked before people start seeing THAT big picture? Our economy will come to a grinding hault before they do anything about it and we’re all just supposed to accept that? I don’t think so.
It’s not logical that a federal program like flood insurance should have an end date that has to be voted on. Does Medicare have an end date? Does Social Security have an end date? Does Amtrak have an end date (Wish it was yes!)…We either have the program or we don’t. If we think it’s becoming too expensive, than we revise the benefits or increase the premiums. How simple is that?!?
It’s also not logical that different programs can be thrown together for a single vote. This particular republican had more of an issue with the extension of unemployment than the flood insurance program. Yet, consumers (those who still have jobs and homes…and can afford insurance), bear the brunt of the our politicians playing stupid games and making things so complicated they can’t get anything done. KISS!!!
Part D. was and still is not funded. Unless you consider deficit spending to be a source of funding. But, I guess the elderly vote was too valuable a group to curry up to vs. the groups in question here. Remember who was in charge when Part D. was enacted and who is the loudest to scream about the deficit now…
We must stop SOMEWHERE !!!!!
Pay as you go!
Just wanted to know if they have blamed Bush yet?
Or when the sob stories are going to start? Like the woman who is wearing her dead sister’s dentures and now can’t close on a house that she can’t afford…
So refusing a 30-day extension on COBRA, unemployment, and NFPA is how we should make our stand against spending?
Rather than, say, not engaging in two debt-financed wars simultaneously?
Where are our priorities? We’ve got no problem spending a trillion dollars to date on two wars, but we draw the line at a 30-day extension of programs which benefit Americans? (Such as unemployement benefits in a steep recession).
We can give $700 billion to banks with no rules or oversight, but we can’t give the people who lost jobs on account of those same banks’ actions unemployment benefits?
Without unanimous consent, congress must adhere to the law. The Communists made a big deal of PayGo, then suspend it everytime rather than obey it. Now a Republican wants them to obey their own law, and Harry Reid cries about immorality.
Go Jim.
Congress better do something to help these people. They helped AIG and yet they did not find time to place these programs on their agenda. Unemployed Amercian’s need help. We have benefit concerts, fund rasiers etc to help the poor people of Haiti. I feel sorry for these people however we have people in the United States living in their cars with their children. Charity starts at home. I’m frankly sick of not helping our own citizens.
Do you think we can tell the banks that there is not flood program so they can’t ask for something we can’t buy? Hmmm.
How do you explain to the people who pay thousands into a flood policy that the program is so far in debt it is almost inside out?
I think Flood should be covered under the homeowners and/or business property insurance. It should be included like some of the other coverages that are included in these package policies that some people use and some don’t; this way we can spread the cost all over instead of hammering certain people.
Margaret, why should everyone pay for someone that has a million plus dollar home on the beach. The government has paid to rebuild these homes over and over again.
Here’s a radical idea – Sen. Bunning can stand up in the Senate, give a speech, try and persuade 50 other senators to not vote for a bill that isn’t funded, and see what happens.
He didn’t “grow a set” like one of the earlier postings said – he’s using an obscure procedural rule to block a vote instead of letting all senators weigh in and then defend their record at re-election time.
That isn’t courage, ethics, integrity or whatever. It’s called extortion.
I just have to say there are several problems…banks require flood to give loans specifically because their lawyers say to…so it can’t be waived when you’re trying to close on a house you just bought or sold…and hope this all gets straight so those that bought or sold can close in time to still get their $6500 or $8000…this could cause even more major issues for people…
Vote out incumbents, They will tell you what you want to hear to get elected.The candidate that tells the truth is to painful to elect.
Obscure? It’s the law. Senators should know the law. Just because you’re clueless doesn’t mean senators are.
Imagine, a lawmaker enforcing the law!!!
Linda – If you are sick of not helping those less fortunate, than what’s stopping you from doing something yourself? I do my fair share and feel no guilt about the government’s failure to act. If we all did our fair share voluntarily, the government wouldn’t have to act.
Point well taken. I do as much as I can to volunteer. But I’m sure I could do more. I just hate to see people trying to find jobs and can’t. I feel fortunate to have a job. Most of these people don’t want a free ride they just want to survive until things get better.
Quote”I just have to say there are several problems…banks require flood to give loans specifically because their lawyers say to…”
Kind of. The lender is requiring flood insurance on houses in special flood hazard areas because …guess what…the government requires it! If the gov finds out a bank has a loan on a house in a SFHA and there isn’t insurance the bank gets fined $$$. During this time how does the gov require something that isn’t available?
If you don’t pull your own weight, then we’ll have to.
I think the government should be helping people out with extended unemployment and Cobra benefits, so we don’t make a big problem worse when the market resources are scarce.
Exactly! It doesn’t make sense! Why do we have to “renew” the funding of a flood insurance program? We either have one or we don’t, and if we don’t, we need to ensure there is a market place substitute product. But you can’t undo one end and not the other. It makes no sense!
Just wait, it will get worse. And then INFLATION!
Spending bills are defined by the amount of money spent, and when it shall be spent.
It’s scary to think that you people vote!
Good for Senator Jim Bunning.I liked him as a Detroit Tiger and I like him still. Someone is actually getting serious and honoring the Democrats pay-go bill.The Democrats don’t seem to honor there own bill, but Senator Bunning is calling their bluff.
He got all of our attention to a very serious issue. Run away spending, actually out of control spending. There won’t be any harm done, just a little inconvenience. If we were to have a catastrophic flood in the next day or two we all know the government would step in, and take care of the situation, and probably find a way to transfer the funds.
the elderely who need treatment, will still get treatments from their doctor today
As far an unemployment some people need it, but some are milking the system. Case in point I have a family member who is in his 50’s and stays at his parents house. He never works more than he has to for unemployment benefits. He has done this for years. He laughs and jokes everytime there is an extension. I am sure he is not the only one who has learned to ride the Gravy Train of our government handouts. I am not suggesting that the majority of the unemployed are like my family member, but there are way too many people riding the gravy train.
Our government system has grown to be a true Nanny state. Take from the hard working Americans to give to those who choose a different lifestyle.
Yes things will be as normal tomorrow or the following day. It was just refreshing to have someone in Congress stand up and say enough all ready. Let’s get serious about this over spend and over tax those who are hard working Americans.
Agent from AZ – Why don’t you report your family member to the unemployment board in your state? I am sure there are plenty just like him, being coddled by family members like yourself, and pushing the cost off on hard-working citizens. It’s your fault as much as it is his. Your family member will be a much better human being and member of society when he learns the value of taking care of himself.
JMHO makes a good point; there are many that milk the system and we all pay for it. There is no accountability. It’s human nature to take if it’s there, especially as it relates to entitlement programs. Once unemployment benefits are extended, people automatically relax job hunting activities b/c they know they have funds coming in and they don’t have to work for. Why find a job and lose free money?
I agree!! Turn in your family member. His parents should be proud of the great job they have done. Basically teaching their kid to steal. I would have no problem turning in one of my family members. They should have a hot line to report these criminals. JMHO, I would volunteer at the hot-line. I guess i was raised by ok parents. My sister was kicked out of the house when she called in sick when she wasn’t sick. My parents took things to extreme howver I was the youngest and it stuck with me.
Xerxes is right about human nature unless the human is raised to value hard work and independence. But times are extraordinarily tough now, for both the good guy and the bad guy. The true unemployment rate is probably 3 – 4 times higher than under the best of circumstances, so benefits need to be extended to help those who ordinarily help themselves, and will still want to help themselves even if the benefits are extended. The question is: How do we tell the good guys from the bad guys? You can’t, and it’s not fair to punish the good because of the bad.
Have we cut business taxes yet? Let’s create jobs at companies that provide health insurance, and knock out both issues with a market-based solution.
I will volunteer at the Hot Line with you! I think your parents raised you just fine. Re you sister: It probably wasn’t the only thing she had done to deserve the kick out the door. How is she doing today?
Meanwhile I can’t wait to see how the new crop of ADHD medicated citizens survive in the real world.
Is what my family member doing the right thing. of course not. Is it ethical not in my opinion, however is it illegal? Not at all. Please don’t tell me you don’t know anyone who takes advantage of our government’s system, because it is so rampant I believe you do.
My son is ADHD so the comment about people on meds was mean spirited.
It appears that most of you are throwing red herrings around for someone to chase.
Be nice to each other-it makes for a better day in an otherwise tedious industry.
:-)
I find it interesting that a Republican derailed the vote in question over the funding issue…During the previous administration and Republican Senate and Congress, we started 2 major wars (rightly issue aside)and a new agency (Dept of Homeland Security) without having the money to pay for it while also cutting taxes. If it were not China floating our debt during that time, we would have hit Federal Bankruptcy..
So, I find it interesting how funding only comes up when…..
Agent from AZ – I am one fortunate human being, so I have a long-winded response. I read your challenge and I forced myself to think about it. You see, I have a huge family. I am one of 7. My father is one of 7. My mother is one of 11. I am 50 years old. There are 50 first cousins (most older than me), never mind second and third cousins. I have more friends than I know how to keep up with high school, college, grad school, jobs). I have a private coaching business with clients. So it took some time to actually think about all of these channels of people I know.
I can tell you honestly that I don’t know of anyone that I am related to that takes advantage of “the system.” There is, however, one “tree limb” of the family that I would suspect capable of taking advantage of the family, and probably does, although I have no proof what so ever. I don’t live in the same state as they do, and I have very little contact with them – mostly funerals. I can safely say that none of my friends or clients are taking advantage of the system, or they wouldn’t be my friend/client and they know that about me.
I am proud of my ethical standards and my expectations of others. People like to associate with ethical people because they know they can be trusted. I think I am quite ordinary in my beliefs. And it’s what most people want for themselves. When someone is behaving unethically, it’s because they lack the belief that they can succeed if they behaved ethically. They need to cheat to win. How sad.
Legality has nothing to do with ethics. When you mix the two up, you are no longer able to see right from wrong.
Sorry Adjustmetoo – Callous on my part and totally unnecesary to make my point. I only wish you the best.
Well said.
Anyone wanting information on the NFIP can go to http://bsa.nfipstat.com.
Look under WYO Company Bulletins / Previous Bulletins / W-09068
This bulletin explains what will and will not occur during the lapse.
This bulletin is referenced in Bulletin W-10014 that was issued on 2/26/09.
This site is the best place for insurance professionals to get correct information on the NFIP.
JMHO,
Your last comment goes back to the philosophical but real questions Is everything ethical legal? Is everything legal ethical? They are not necessarily and often are not synonymous.
It is interesting to hear about your family, since you want to judge. Let me tell you a little about me. I hold three college degrees (one bachelors and two masters). I am an adjunct professor, besides owning my own insurance agency for 27 years. I serve on several community and professional volunteer boards, and I could go on about accomplishments in life, but I won’t bore you. I pay a lot in taxes and have for years, as you probably do. By far most of my family members, friends and aqaintances do not take advantage of the system,because if they did they wouldn’t be friends and close aquaintences. As I stated in our system what my family member does in my opinion is not ethical, but it is not illegal.
Let me restate it he works for a year at a time, he does turn in his paperwork as he makes three contacts a month to find new work. He fulfills all the requirements. It is done over the internet. He is not interested in finding new work as the jobs he gets pay just over minimum wage. He loves the unemployment system. When his unemployment runs out I am sure he will do more than the minimum to get a new job, and he will find a job. This scenario is not as unusual as you are making it out to be. Multiply this across the nation. Now include welfare, and the illegal population where we fund 40% of those here illegally.
No personal offense taken but thanks for the apology. This industry is difficult enough, especially if in claims. Thanks again.
Agent from TX – It sounds like you have a pretty wide net of contacts as well. I agree with you on probably all of your points – it’s not unusual to say that we are all either related to or know someone who is abusing the system. I never meant it to be interpreted as unusual that this occurs. I agree with you 100% about the huge issue we have with people taking advantage of the system. It’s horrible, and we haven’t touched on welfare or illegals. But, we have to teach and value ethical behavior, and I’m just saying you could do more to help your family member by encouraging him to not take advantage of the system.
But think of how much Billy Tauzin loves his mother! How dare you suggest that the federal government shouldn’t pay full retail price to the pharma’s for her medication?
Don’t you just LOVE the hypocracy? Unfunded Medicare Part D, Unfunded Iraq war, Unfunded Afghan war, and the “tea party” slumbers under the sagelike wisdom of ole’ dubya. But a 30 day extension on unemployment benefits? Call McCarthy I smell COMMUNISTS!
Let the revolution begin!
I say good for Sen. Bunning! This bill shows what’s wrong with congress and the system. Flood Insurance extention should not be buried inside a “jobs” bill or with COBRA issues. While Congress and this president is spending money we don’t have, good for Bunning for sticking it to all members of Congress, irrespective of party affiliation. Flood insurance coverage should have been a bill on it’s own and discussed/debated.
This problem is another reason why the Federal government should not be in the insurance and retirement business. Every time the federal government establishes an insurance program for the benefit of its citizens it becomes another cash cow for the government to sifon its assets.
Name any government insurance or retirement program and it has been either underfunded or has had its assets stolen by the bureaucrats in Washington, DC.
The federal flood insurance program is closed to new business and increases in coverage. The real question should be the where are the insurance reserves. The federal government does not have an unlimited money supply. With record deficits into the future and a nearly 18 trillion in national debt (excludes state and local government debts), it will only take one major earth equake event in California to paralysis our nation’s finances.
Our elected officials have shown they are untrustworthy with our money. Every employer and employee has been embezzled from by their bureaucracy. The employer matches the social security contribution of its employees. Yet, the employees’ portion is the only amount that actually goes into the social security program. The employer’s portion is paid into the general fund.
If you are a senoir, imagine having twice the amount of your current Social Security check.
And, something is really fishes with the Security Exchange Commission. Ole Bernie Madolf was sent to Butner federal prison for 150 leisurely years for stealing billions. Several years ago, the Federal courts sent William Shackleford to Atlanta federal prison for surposely stealing 30 million. It was later reported Wachovia Bank paid 17 million and 13.6 million was paid by his reinsured to the NC Department of Insurance under Mr. James E. Long. Mr. Madolf must have greases some palms…
Currently, I would rather have my health insurance written on a Lloyd’s product than our US Government proposed Heathcare plan.
Mike–WE DIDN’T START THE WARS!!! WE WERE ATTACKED! Granted, we weren’t directly attacked by Iraq, but even you would have to agree that their people are better off with Saddam.
dammit…meant to say “without Saddam.”
there goes my credibility…
You know Wally it’s amazing how this issue is now linked to the two wars we are in. If you want to go down that old road, you were right we were attacked and we are still under attack today by islamic fundamentalists. And now another issue arises by Congressional leadership (well so-called leadership) and this administration. Irresponsible spending, debt out of sight, spending money we don’t have and Obama’s fiscal ideology of socializing America. And despite the overwhelming majority of Americans who don’t want government takeover of healthcare, Obama is going to use the reconciliation provision to shove it through Congress. But hey it’s all Bush’s fault.
Hey Lil,
What do you know about how premiums are used? You pay for your neighbors lousy driving record each time your rates go up on your auto.
I think what Margaret is saying is that if it is a coverage that is included in our homeowners or business policy, like loss of use or business interuption, then the coverage will be available to everyone at a fairer price. And it will be an insurance coverage and not a government payment that you pay for in your taxes anyway , Lil.