Client News
MIAMI HERALD: Taxpayers’ liability
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Taxpayers’ liability
Re the April 13 letter A better way to insure: The Florida Wildlife Federation has long supported reform of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund in order to rein in financial and environmental risks associated with these government-run insurance programs. However, we oppose the solution of a national catastrophe fund offered in the letter.
As Floridians, our organization and members as well as many other groups throughout the state realize the risks associated with a national program. Such a fund would continue to incentivize coastal development in the most hazardous areas of East and Gulf Coast states, expose taxpayers to tremendous liability, provide private parties with public subsidies and destroy coastal wetlands and dunes that are buffers to help reduce inland storm damage and provide important fish and wildlife habitats.
A national catastrophe fund would do little to alleviate the problems we have in Florida. Instead, it would create a national problem that affects all Americans.
Jay Liles, policy consultant, Florida Wildlife Federation, Tallahassee