Mining Bill Could End Flood Insurance for Wisconsinites

The Ashland Daily Press is reporting that the Wisconsin Assembly's mining bill may make it difficult or impossible to receive flood insurance in Wisconsin. Larry Larson of the Association of State Floodplain Managers, Inc. said that passing AB 426 “may have a dramatic negative impact on the ability of Wisconsin’s citizens to be able to buy flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program, thus increasing their financial risk as well as jeopardizing their basic life and safety.”

The problem with the industry-crafted bill is that it excludes mining from floodplain regulations. Similar exclusions in other states have jeopardized their ability to receive funds for flood disaster relief and caused them to be "kicked out" of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). FEMA's chief of Floodplain Management says the mining bill is a violation of federal law and could jeopardize Wisconsin's eligibility for NFIP which insures billions of dollars in property value for Wisconsinites.

The compromise bill sponsored by Sen. Bob Jauch (D) and Dale Schultz (R) doesn't exclude mining from floodplain regulations and therefore wouldn't affect eligibility of flood insurance or disaster relief. However, Walker and his allies say they and Gogebic Taconite will walk away from the compromise bill.

How can we come to an agreement if the Republicans refuse to compromise?

Republican: "Uh, what is compromise?"

Person who gets stuff done:
com·pro·mise/ˈkämprəˌmīz/

Noun:	An agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions.
Verb:	Settle a dispute by mutual concession.
Synonyms:	noun. agreement - accommodation - settlement - conciliation verb. come to terms