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Home Front: Politix
Taxpayers May Face Hurricane Tab
2008-06-02
I see this as flawed, except perhaps to protect existing homes until they no longer habitable. I don't want to see people building in risky areas simply because cheaper-than-indicated insurance is available. The economy would lose useful productivity to increased rebuilding efforts (which in a perfect world should never be necessary). Seems like just another thinly veiled Dem attempt to buy votes.
As hurricane season begins, Democrats in Congress want to nationalize a chunk of the insurance business that covers major storm-damage claims.

The proposal -- backed by giant insurers Allstate Corp. and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., as well as Florida lawmakers -- focuses on "reinsurance," the policies bought by insurers themselves to protect against catastrophic losses. The proposal envisions a taxpayer-financed reinsurance program covering all 50 states, which would essentially backstop the giant insurers in case of disaster.
This would prevent encrusted lawyers and corrupt politicans in, say, Mississippi, from violating the law, the courts and plain commen sense to seize money from insurers and distribute amongst their friends. No wonder they support it.
The program could save homeowners roughly $500 apiece in annual premiums in Florida, according to an advocacy group backed by Allstate and State Farm, the largest writers of property insurance in the U.S.
Posted by:gorb

#4  Uh, No. Either you got hurricane insurance when you bought your house, or you didn't. If you did and got wiped out, then get a clue. And a bus ticket away. You already got your cash out.
If you didn't buy insurance then while i may have some empathy, I feel that you just cannot legislate stupidity out of existence. This is nothing more (IMHO) than a governmental-sized, hot cup of McCoffee in the crotch payout program.
Posted by: USN, Ret.   2008-06-02 15:05  

#3  The proposal -- backed by giant insurers Allstate Corp. and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., as well as Florida lawmakers

If the Insurance companies are behind it, they stand to profit greatly, no other reason.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2008-06-02 14:25  

#2  Yeah, that 10.5 Billion in Katrina aid certainly demonstrated a need for even more of the Treasury to teach people to (a) build in better locations, (b) build to strict standards for the environment, (c) make sure they're covered by their existing insurance, by saying "it doesn't matter", Uncle Sugar is here to take care of you [because you're so small and just a victim and must be taken care of because you're only 3/5th a human, except when it comes to vote me back into office]. Here, let me put these chains on you for your own protection.

Isn't this just another form of corporate welfare. They get the easy, money generating income [non-major storm damage] from insurance farming and the public gets stuck with the deficit income insurance tab, major storm damage part? The Donks don't grasp this is one of their fundamental argument against vouchers for education, that the private schools would get all the good and easy to educate kids and the public system would be left with the antisocial and 'challenging' dregs left overs? Remember, it's not about principles, its about POWER. Must be a lot of 'campaign contributions' coming in from the insurance industry this election cycle.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2008-06-02 09:49  

#1  Gorb you are the Rantburg Posting Champion!

Taxpayers May Face Hurricane Tab

..How Utterly Fucking Shocking and sooooo out of character for Congress.

/sick of being sarc..
Posted by: RD   2008-06-02 07:03  

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