Vitter: "The American People Are Fed Up"
by GERARD SHIELDS - Advocate (excerpt)

Melancon Slams Vitter On Flood Insurance

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, criticized incumbent U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., on Wednesday for voting against legislation that extends the National Flood Insurance Program.

Vitter voted Wednesday against the legislation that also extends unemployment benefits and COBRA health insurance for those not working. The Senate approved the measure, on a vote of 60 for and 40 against, the ballots falling mostly on party lines, with Democrats supporting and most Republicans opposing. On the floor of the Senate Wednesday, Vitter criticized the legislation because Congress did not come up with a way to pay for it. In a heated exchange with U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., Vitter slammed his hand down after Baucus asked him to support the bill. “No sir, I’m not,” Vitter said. “And the American people are not. The American people are fed up.”

Vitter said the bill would cost $18 billion for a two-month extension. Vitter suggested that the flood insurance program, which he said would add nothing to the deficit, be taken out of the bill to stand alone in a separate bill that Vitter offered. “Let’s follow the common-sense folks across Louisiana who say, of course, you need to extend necessary programs,” Vitter said. “And, of course, you can’t just add to the deficit and debt every two months that you need to do this, $18 billion a pop.”