WASHINGTON--Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., said the battle he iswaging to force insurers not to "mistreat" Mississippi residentsover their Hurricane Katrina claims has "reinvigorated" him.

In remarks at an April 4 Edgewater, Miss., Rotary Club luncheonreported by the Gulfport Sun-Herald, Sen. Lott also said insurancerepresentatives in Washington have been "surly" over hislegislative efforts to remove the industry's antitrust exemptionand work for other changes.

Sen. Lott has filed against his insurer, State Farm Fire &Casualty Co., for refusing to cover wind damage to the waterfronthome in Pascagoula, Miss., that his family lost to HurricaneKatrina in 2005. The case is scheduled for trial in September.

"They hinted that maybe my being a litigant at the same time I'mpursuing legislation is improper, but I have a ruling," Sen. Lottsaid. "See, I've been around. I know how to protect myself."

He said he had obtained a ruling from the Senate counsel'soffice that his actions were legal. "In fact, there's a longhistory of great quotes about how it's very fortuitous sometimeswhen your interests coincide with those of your constituency," headded.

According to the newspaper, he said he was pursuing theantitrust legislation change because after Hurricane Katrina "I wasmade aware--I regret to admit I did not know the insurance industrywas exempt from the antitrust laws."

The senator was quoted as saying he had sought re-electionbecause of Hurricane Katrina and he gets up every morning"invigorated because I'm trying to figure out what I can do to helpthese people and these communities down here and help my state andto make people who have been mistreating them stop it. It gives youan adrenaline rush every morning."

Sen. Lott reportedly told the Rotary Club that he has refused toaccept the settlement offer from State Farm for him and 640 otherpolicyholders represented by his brother-in-law Richard "Dickie"Scruggs's firm, the Scruggs Katrina Group.

He said he wants a fair settlement for everyone. He also saidtwo State Farm whistle-blowers are another reason he has declinedthe settlement offer.

Sen. Lott said insurers "assumed" they could mistreatMississippians after Hurricane Katrina, as they have done tocustomers in Florida and Alabama.

"You may try it and you may get away with it, but you're goingto go through the wringer before you get there because we're notgoing to take it," Sen. Lott said as Rotarians applauded, accordingto the newspaper.

He criticized record insurance industry profits and an 82percent pay increase for State Farm CEO Edward Rust Jr. while theindustry denies claims, cuts back on coverage and raises rates.

"We're not looking for war," he said. "We're looking for peaceand a solution. But sometimes, to get a good result, you have to beprepared to take on the fight and take some of the flak that comeswith it. In Washington, if you take on the insurance industry, youbetter bring your lunch. I've got mine."