The quietest storm season in more than a decade prompted Congress to keep postponing permanent resolution of one of the country's biggest insurance challenges--how best to reform the debt-ridden National Flood Insurance Program.

Despite deep divisions within its own ranks and united opposition from Republicans, Democrats appeared to be moving closer and closer at year's-end to landmark legislation reforming the nation's health care system.

Legislation extending the National Flood Insurance Program until Feb. 28 has passed Congress on an 88-10 vote.

Healthcare reform legislation viewed as more positive to insurance agents than earlier versions, cleared a critical hurdle in the Senate early this morning, setting the stage for Senate passage as early as Christmas Eve.

Although the need for a federal bailout of the troubled American International Group created demands for strong federal regulation of insurance, to this point the industry appears to have preserved state oversight for property and casualty carriers.

A trade group representing medical liability insurers is voicing concern over a provision in the Senate healthcare reform bill that would encourage states to create tort reform programs, but allows participants to "opt-out" of the process.

House passage of financial services reform legislation is drawing a mixed response from the property and casualty insurance industry.

Reinsurance and excess and surplus lines purchases would be governed by the tax policies, licensing and other requirements of the buyer's home state...