NU Online News Service, May 22, 3:32 p.m.EDT

Sen. David Vitter, R.-La., today introduced a five-year NationalFlood Insurance Program extension in the form of an amendment tobipartisan drug legislation.

The amendment incorporates S. 1940–NFIP reauthorizationlegislation passed by the Senate Banking Committee lastSeptember–with some minor changes.

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., has demanded action on S. 1940. Coburnis fed up with short-term extensions based on empty promises of afuture Senate vote, according to Matt Gannon, assistant vicepresident for federal affairs at the National Association of MutualInsurance Companies in Washington, and Ray Lehmann, director ofpublic affairs for the R Street Institute, formerly a part of theHeartland Institute.

Coburn has told the Senate leadership that he will not vote on ashort-term extension unless a path to a long-term extension "islaid out in concrete," according to an industry lobbyist who didnot wish to be named.

Even if the Senate passes a five-year extension, a short-termextension will be needed this week so the Senate and House canreconcile their long-term extensions. 

The program's authorization runs out May 31, and the Senate isleaving at the end of this week and will not return until June 4.The House is not in session this week, but returns from theMemorial Day weekend Wednesday, May 30.

According to lobbyist, there is not enough support in the Senatefor the House's 30-day extension that included incrementalreforms. 

The lobbyist says the Senate wants a "clean" 30-dayextension.

"Bear in mind that the House comes back on May 30 and will be insession on May 31, but the Senate is not in at all thatweek," the lobbyist says. "So, in a way, if the Senate does a clean30- or 60-day extension by unanimous consent this week–or even the'end of the year' extension that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid,D-Nev., tried to get last week–they will haveboxed in the House on this," the lobbyist said.

Gannon says Coburn and the House would accept a clean 30-Dayextension only if the Senate votes on its five-year extension.