Crist makes pitch in D.C. for national catastrophe fund

Crist tried to help Floridians but George W. Bush and his lying gutless Republican Corporate weasels have screwed us again!
When are Republicans going to start protecting Americans instead of Corporations?

Of course he wouldn't give something like this the go ahead....he needs 'mo money fo''da war!

Yeah, if people are too busy working multiple jobs to figure out how they're going to pay their mortgage, utilities, insurance and property tax bills, they'll be too busy and too tired to question the Regime. By keeping America distracted and busy and Washington will always get what it wants.

This is something I have thought was needed for a long long time. Why not replace the current national flood insurance program with a national disaster insurance to cover flood, earthquake, tornados, and hurricanes. Every homeowner in the country that has a mortgage and is in an area that can be affected by these events would be required to buy this insurance like they do with flood now. They would be in a Flood Zone, Hurricane Zone, Earthquake zone or Tornado Zone. They would pay in by the historical probabilities just like they do now in flood based on elevation. If this was done nationally, it would lower the overall costs dramatically.

If you cap the amount that the taxpayer is responsible for, than this is a good thing. Let the people who own million plus dollar homes pay for it themselves. But for the rest of us working stiffs - do something!

One of the things Crist did as insurance commissioner was to allow insurance companies to have seperate companies to insure us here in Florida. Companies were threatening not to write ANY policies in the state because all the money they were making in areas of low risk was being threatened by our high risk area. Now instead of Allstate, we have Allstate Floridian-that can become insolvent and not touch any of the billions that Allstate makes in the rest of the country.

Now we have Citizens and billion dollar companies crying broke. If the national disaster fund will help, go for it. But it should be funded by Homeland Security and the insurance companies.

Mike wrote:

This is something I have thought was needed for a long long time. Why not replace the current national flood insurance program with a national disaster insurance to cover flood, earthquake, tornados, and hurricanes. Every homeowner in the country that has a mortgage and is in an area that can be affected by these events would be required to buy this insurance like they do with flood now. They would be in a Flood Zone, Hurricane Zone, Earthquake zone or Tornado Zone. They would pay in by the historical probabilities just like they do now in flood based on elevation. If this was done nationally, it would lower the overall costs dramatically.

It is bigger than just the fund. The country needs a disaster fund and a disaster response team. Disaster can take many forms and local goverments can't prepare for all eventualities. It is more efficient to be centrally run by professionals. The comment about the healthy insurance business is the reason people are complaining about health insurance and property insurance. Free markets don't work when dominated by monopolies.

I love it, as soon as Bush's brother is out of office, Bush turns his back on Florida.

I agree with Buck Fush! I didn't vote for Charlie but he has the right idea. I might just change my vote next time around. Check out how many of those republicrats have insurance lobbyists sniffing around their re-election campaigns and you will likely find the ones who want to keep the govt out of the insurance business. Mike is correct, a national catastrophie fund - just like flood -- would solve a bunch of problems but it will pull big bucks out of the insurance mans hands, making it pretty difficult to pass as they have a lot of bucks to fund lobbyists to sway the vote.

"Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama, the ranking Republican on the committee, agreed that the insurance industry is handling the risks. He argued that a national fund would leave taxpayers in safe areas paying into a fund to cover homeowners in vulnerable locations, including ritzy houses on the beach."

Bullsh*t. Why couldn't it be like Federal Flood insurance? You have the insurance you pay for the insurance. Not in a flood zone, don't need the insurance, don't pay for the insurance and lose the ability to make a claim if you get flooded out.

At least if you pooled everyone in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and the Carolina's together you'd be spreading the risk far better than just in Florida.

another Pipe dream

Mike wrote:

This is something I have thought was needed for a long long time. Why not replace the current national flood insurance program with a national disaster insurance to cover flood, earthquake, tornados, and hurricanes. Every homeowner in the country that has a mortgage and is in an area that can be affected by these events would be required to buy this insurance like they do with flood now. They would be in a Flood Zone, Hurricane Zone, Earthquake zone or Tornado Zone. They would pay in by the historical probabilities just like they do now in flood based on elevation. If this was done nationally, it would lower the overall costs dramatically.

I think that's a great idea. Mike for President!:)

Hey Chuck, tell them to kill the "wet foot dry foot" mess while you're up there.

I think we need the catastrophic insurance plan. At least they will study it before they burry it. We need to continue to write and ask our representatives in congress and our senators to support it. I really believe it is the only real solution. I see nothing wrong with a fund that could help lower the re-insurance market which is what all the insurers are saying is causing the premiums in Florida to be high.

all charlie is, is a big talker w/ no results to show for his talking or on the horizon.
1--what happened to our rate reductions for homeowner insurance? w/ the republican house speaker--mario rubio--against charlie's reduction and in the insurance industries pocket, a homeowners insurance reduction has hit a dead end.
2--all the big talk about property tax reduction--what happened charlie?
the politicians in T r arguing along party lines, as usuall, about what to do w/ prop taxes--w/ floridians stuck in the middle and NO SOLUTION IN SIGHT!
3--the big tax break charlie is giving pro sports teams in florida.
we need tax revenues but he is giving pro teams--whose owners r multi-millionairs--huge tax breaks of millions of dollars. florida's tax revenue will then be lower and guess who always pays for big business tax breaks--THE AVERAGE MIDDLE INCOME FLORIDIAN-U AND ME!
folks--charlie is quoted a few times as saying he *GUARANTEES* LOWER HOMEOWNERS INS RATES IN LARGER PERCENTAGES THAN THE INS COMPANIES R QUOTING PEOPLE W/ THEIR NEW RATES. if he doesnt come thru w/ these 3 biggies he promised floridians--remember that in the next governor's election--dont VOTE FOR A LIAR.
i voted for charlie last november--but next time if these things dont pan out--i wont vote for a proven liar named charlie crist.

america needs a national catastophic fund-its a great idea.
BUT---does anyone one who is realistic and sane think that the dems and repubs can get together and hammer out something that will benefit all americans--NEVER NEVER--and to boot, have that knuclehead bush sign a "helping hand for americans" bill!! IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN W/ EITHER PARTY IN POWER IN D.C.
its not in a politicians mind-set to do good for the people he works for--only him/herself and no one else.

Lets march on Washington and stay till they reduce the insurance with national disaster
insurance.How long would that take?
Florida can fix their taxes with all paying their fair share and the one person working instead of five supervising and one working.
Watch when you see city,county or state workers,
they all should be paid piece work!!!!!

Don't worry, as soon as one of Bush's buddy finds a way to make money doing this, it will pass with no resistance from the (off) White House!!!!!!!!