Ben McKay

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  Another Short-Term Extension Planned for NFIP

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  September 16, 2011

  The current National Flood Insurance Program will be extended through Nov. 18 by a congressional vote next week, according to industry officials.

• Committee Confirms Woodall to FSOC; Nomination Goes to Full Senate

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  September 8, 2011

  The Senate Banking Committee today approved Roy Woodall to be the independent member of the Financial Stability Oversight Council with insurance expertise and sent the nomination to the full Senate for final approval.

• Trade Groups Lay Out Legislative Agendas Beyond Flood Extension

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  September 2, 2011

  While insurance trade groups cite the flood program extension as their top priority this legislative session, they also plan to push for differentiating insurers from banks in the eyes of lawmakers and regulators, among some other key industry issues.

• Flood Extension Tops Legislative Agenda for Trade Groups

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  September 1, 2011

  Working to ensure enactment of a long-term National Flood Insurance Program extension is the top priority of property and casualty insurance industry trade groups as Congress prepares to return to work Tuesday.

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  Industry: Senate Failure to Extend NFIP a ‘Dereliction of Duty’

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  August 3, 2011

  Industry officials voiced deep concern over the lack of action in the Senate to extend the current version of the National Flood Insurance Program through Dec. 31.

• Senate Flood Bill Differs From House Version As Deadline Looms

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  July 21, 2011

  As of this writing, the Senate Banking Committee is preparing to act on legislation that would provide a long-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

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  Insurance Industry Urges Senate to Follow House on NFIP Reauthorization

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  July 13, 2011

  Insurance industry trade groups today lauded the decision of the House to pass legislation reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program for five years—and urged the Senate to act promptly on the measure.

• FEMA Takes Stand Against NFIP Depopulation Amendment

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  July 12, 2011

  The Federal Emergency Management Agency says in a letter that taking over management of more than 800,000 flood insurance policies currently administered by State Farm will save the agency more than $50 million annually, compared to the cost of the current Write-Your-Own program.

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  Top FEMA Administrator Outlines Possible Mitigation-Based NFIP Pricing Scheme

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  June 10, 2011

  Federal flood-management officials are considering whether to base National Flood Insurance Program premiums on community-mitigation efforts—a departure from current practice.

• Industry Reacts To NFIP Legislation Now On House Floor

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 13, 2011

  Industry officials today lauded the decision of the House Financial Services Committee to report out legislation reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program, noting that the panel was acting against the background of historic flooding in the Mississippi Valley area.

• Senate Passes 1099 Repeal; Bill Goes To President

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  April 11, 2011

  Led by Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb), the Senate passed legislation repealing the much-criticized 1099 reporting provision in the healthcare-reform law and sent the bill to President Obama for his signature.

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  NFIP Extension Bill Advances In House

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  April 7, 2011

  A panel of the House Financial Services Committee late Wednesday passed legislation that would keep the National Flood Insurance Program in operation until Sept. 2016.

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  Senate Passes 1099 Repeal; Bill Goes To President

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  April 5, 2011

  Led by Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb, the Senate today passed legislation repealing the much-criticized 1099 reporting provision in the healthcare reform law and sent the bill to President Obama for his signature.

• Senators Urge Prompt Selection For Fed Insurance Posts

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  February 25, 2011

  Five U.S. senators are asking the Obama administration to move promptly to fill the insurance slot on the Financial Stability Oversight Council as well as to appoint the director of the Federal Insurance Office.

• Old Biz Tops Agendas Of P&C Groups

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  January 3, 2011

  Regulatory initiatives dealing with implementation of the financial services reform law, and such old business as providing certainty to the NFIP will keep p&c insurance industry lobbyists extremely busy this year.

• Democratic Senators Introduce Bill To Delay New Flood Insurance Mandates

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  December 2, 2010

  Two Democratic senators Tuesday introduced legislation in the current lame-duck session that would delay for five years a mandate that homeowners included in new flood zones buy "market-based" insurance policies.