Keep down the damage to the taxpayers

by David Jenkins, REP Government Affairs Director
published in the Roanoke Times, Roanoke, VA, April 2, 2008

I agree with your paper's March 26 editorial "Shifting hurricane risk to taxpayers," which argues adding wind coverage to the already insolvent National Flood Insurance Program will only overwhelm the federal government and place even greater financial burden on all taxpayers.

Adding wind insurance to the NFIP essentially lulls property owners into a false sense of security and promotes rebuilding in coastal areas routinely slammed by tropical storms. It's simply foolish public policy to use taxpayer dollars to encourage building practices that place human lives at greater risk, increase the cost of future storms, and lead to environmental disaster.

A coalition of disparate groups including Consumer Federation of America, the National Wildlife Federation and Republicans for Environmental Protection, among others, is raising concern about this proposed irresponsible policy. There are better solutions to this crisis -- market-based solutions such as tax credits and other incentives to reward citizens who site, construct, and upgrade their homes to minimize risk and withstand water and wind damage.

It's time Congress realizes what this group of strange bedfellows already understands -- adding wind coverage to the NFIP is not a sound solution.