McCain brings flip-flops to Florida, now opposes federal disaster insurance fund

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT - by Amy Weiss

Sens. Barack Obama (D-IL) and John McCain (R-AZ) are both campaigning in Florida on Friday, trying to appeal to voters in the swing state. Democrats are highlighting McCain's position reversal on a proposed National Catastrophic Insurance Fund, a fund that would help victims of hurricanes and other natural disasters. McCain now opposes the measure, despite its strong support from important McCain backer, Florida Governor Charlie Crist.

The fund would provide national disaster relief insurance, rather than placing the burden on individual states. According to the Boston Globe:

The proposed fund -- sought by Florida officials and others, but stuck in Congress -- is designed to help more property owners get insurance at lower premiums. It would be funded by the federal government and by states who choose to participate, and would spread the risk across the country and limit insurers' liability so they can offer affordable rates.

The DNC provided a timeline of McCain's position in a press release. In March 2007, the Palm Beach Post said, "Crist praised McCain for his support of Florida issues such as a national catastrophic fund for disasters and a continued oil drilling ban off of Florida's coasts."

In April 2007, the Bush Administration said it opposed creation of such a fund.

In January 2008, McCain made it clear he did not support the fund and would rather use money toward improving the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). McCain said at a town hall, "I do not support a national catastrophic insurance policy... That insurance policy is there and it's called FEMA and it's called national disaster preparedness... I still do not have confidence that FEMA is capable of handling those responsibilities."

In response, Rep. Ron Klein (D-FL) criticized McCain's assessment. The Palm Beach Post said Tuesday:

Noting that FEMA's role is primarily to respond to natural disasters and does not involve homeowners insurance, Klein said McCain's position showed a "lack of understanding of the problem of significant proportions."

McCain also said he was "not in favor of spending $200 billion a year simply for the state of Florida," while the Congressional Budget Office estimates the proposal would cost $25 million per year.

Obama supports the creation of the fund and characterized McCain's position in a statement saying, "Once again John McCain has made clear that he is much more interested in standing with George Bush than getting the facts right or doing what's right."