The National Flood Insurance Program of 1968 enacted protections for homes prone to flooding. When private insurers wouldn't provide coverage, the government offered insurance. This insurance is meant to be self-supporting.
Interestingly, among the rabble-rousing of the healthcare debate, a small bill was forwarded to expand the NFIP to cover hurricane-prone areas, after Katrina left many with "wind" denials. Perhaps this legislation is helpful. (Though some have criticized the NFIP for inducing a sense of invincibility in environmentally-hazardous areas.)
What does it have to do with healthcare? The bill ("Multiple Peril Insurance Act of 2009") was sponsored by Gene Taylor (D-MS) and includes 21 co-sponsors, mostly Democrats, mostly supporting of HCR passage. But there are a few, including the sponsor himself, who oppose "government intervention" in healthcare. Why for? Let's meet them!
Unsurprisingly, they are all coastal, southern Democrats - who support expanding national flood insurance, but as of the moment, are not supporting reconciliation on HCR. I don't know all their personal reasons, so please provide info in comments if available.
Charlie Melancon (D-Louisiana)
(202) 225-4031
YES for expanded flood insurance; yes/no on healthcare expansion?
Travis Childers (D-Mississippi)
(202) 225-4306
YES for expanded flood insurance; yes/no on bill?
John Barrow (D-Georgia)
(202) 225-2823
YES for expanded flood insurance; yes/no on bill?
In addition to these seemingly confused souls, Marion Berry is a co-sponsor of the legislation. It seems he is (currently) opposed to HCR on the basis of the Stupak stupidity. There are also five Republican co-sponsors of the flood insurance expansion -- all southern / coastal representatives (imagine that!), all against HCR:
Steve Scalise (R- Louisiana)
Jo Bonner (R-Alabama)
Gregg Harper (R-Mississippi)
Jeff Miller (R-Florida)
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida)
So, I thought this would be an interesting exercise in locating hypocrisy. There's plenty of it in D.C. of course. Little is so transparent.
When you'll vote for the protections of the federal government for HOUSE insurance, but not for HEALTH insurance, it really calls into question your mental framework. Priorities? Hypocrisy? What's the problem here?
P.S. In case you didn't know the story. Gene Taylor, the sponsor (and the most adamant dixiecrat against HCR) lost his house to Katrina and apparently had some battles with the insurance company. Talkin' bout "if it doesn't affect me, I don't give a F***."