Rain gives Dems another shot at GOP

Democrats are using flooding in the Northeast to rip Republicans for expiration of a National Flood Insurance Program, one of several programs set to die on Monday because Congress failed to renew them.

Republicans last week objected to continuing the programs without offsetting their cost. Senate Democrats and Republicans then agreed to a short-term extension with a pay-for, but House Democratic leaders nixed the concession to the GOP.

Democrats nevertheless have worked to pin the blame on Senate Republicans, arguing they should have agreed to extend the programs on an emergency basis without an offset. Republicans noted Democrats voted to adjourn last week without extending the programs.

Lawmakers have sparred mostly over the pending expiration of unemployment insurance and health benefits for the jobless.

But Democrats in recent days have used severe flooding in states such as Rhode Island and New Jersey to highlight the flood insurance authority.

Due to the pending expiration, individuals in areas designated as flood plains where purchasers are required to buy flood insurance since Monday have been unable to close or renew flood insurance policies, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, which urges passage of a long-term extension. There are about 5.5 million flood insurance policy holders in flood plains, according to the group.

That means flooded homeowners would face complications filing claims if they were up for renewal of their flood insurance.

Expiration of the program leaves "homeowners across the country vulnerable to the devastating effects of flood waters and adding greater uncertainty to the real estate market in flood-prone areas," PCI Federal Government Relations Senior Vice President Ben McKay said in a statement.

The program will likely be extended retroactively once Congress returns, Senate aides said.