Jimi Grande

• Under Pressure, Landrieu Again Seeks to Block NFIP Rate Increases

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 22, 2013

  Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., late Tuesday introduced legislation that would roll back a number of National Flood Insurance Program reforms passed last year.

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  Battle over NFIP Rate Hikes Causes Ripples in Louisiana Senate Race

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 20, 2013

  The battle over rate hikes imposed on flood insurance program policyholders in Louisiana is intensifying, with the big prize being the Senate seat now held by Mary Landrieu, D-La.

• Federal Bills Incentivize States to Adopt Uniform Building Codes

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 9, 2013

  Legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate aimed at providing additional incentives for states to adopt and enforce uniform building codes.

• Louisiana Senators Push for Delay in NFIP Rate Hikes

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 8, 2013

  Louisiana’s two senators are proposing an indefinite delay to flood insurance premium hikes mandated by legislation enacted in 2012.

• House Subcommittee Chair Pushes Requirement that Lenders Accept Private Flood Policies

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  April 25, 2013

  demand by a House Financial Services subcommittee chairman that bank regulators move quickly to impose a rule requiring mortgage lenders to accept private flood insurance is prompting a split in the insurance industry.

• Industry Sees Boston's Importance for TRIA; Focus Now on Justice, Recovery

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com, Elizabeth D. Festa, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  April 16, 2013

  The head of the Insurance Information Institute says in the wake of the bombing tragedy at the Boston Marathon that the stability of the terrorism risk insurance market is contingent on sustaining a federal terrorism risk insurance backstop.

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  Senate Banking Committee Chairman Will Not Seek Re-Election

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  March 27, 2013

  Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, has announced he will not run for re-election.

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  Federal Insurance Office Regulatory Report Coming by July

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  March 13, 2013

  The Federal Insurance Office says it will release its long-awaited report on recommendations for modernizing and improving insurance regulation before July.

• Bernanke Letter Hints at 'Bank-Centric' standards for Thrift-Owning Insurers

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  February 19, 2013

  The Federal Reserve appears to be reiterating that it will use “bank-centric” standards opposed by the insurance industry in regulating insurance companies that operate thrifts—although some industry trade groups are disputing that interpretation.

• Obama's Treasury Secretary Pick Uncertain on Need for TRIA as Schumer Makes Case

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com, Elizabeth Festa, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  February 14, 2013

  U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., made clear to the Treasury Department that renewal of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act will be one of his top priorities for this Congress. Treasury Secretary designate Jacob Lew says he is not familiar with Obama administration stance on the issue.

• HUD Finalizes Disparate-Impact Criteria; Insurers Claim Regulatory Overreach

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  February 12, 2013

  The Department of Housing and Urban Development has finalized a federal regulation it says introduces uniform “disparate-impact” criteria to the sale of homeowners insurance, prompting claims of “regulatory overreach” by industry officials.

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  House Introduces TRIA Extension, but Tough Road Seen for Passage

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  February 5, 2013

  The House today introduced legislation that would extend the current Terrorism Risk Insurance Act until the end of 2019, representing the opening round of what is expected to be a tough battle to extend the program in its current form.

• Medicare Secondary Payment Fix Signed into Law

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  January 11, 2013

  Legislation aimed at streamlining repayment of funds to Medicare when the program pays claims later covered by private insurers has finally been enacted into law.

• NAMIC Voices Concern with HUD 'Disparate Impact' Rule

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  January 10, 2013

  A federal regulation introducing “disparate impact” criteria to the sale of homeowners insurance will be finalized next month, according to industry officials.

• For Senate Committee Active in Insurance Issues, a New Ranking Minority Member

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  January 8, 2013

  Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, will replace Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., as ranking minority member of the Senate Banking Committee—a key Senate oversight panel for the insurance industry.

• Industry Expresses Relief at NFIP Borrowing Authority Increase

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  January 7, 2013

  Insurance industry officials are voicing strong support for the legislation signed into law Sunday by President Obama that raised the borrowing authority for the National Flood Insurance Program by one-third.