WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has rejected a bid by Gulf state senators to add wind coverage to a financially strapped federal program that provides flood insurance.

Lawmakers from Louisiana and Mississippi cited problems that occurred after Hurricane Katrina and other big 2005 storms when private insurers covering wind damage claimed that destruction to property resulted from flooding.

That shifted the burden of payments to taxpayers.

But the Senate voted 73-19 today (Wednesday) against the amendment by Sen. Roger Wicker, a Republican from Mississippi.

It would have provided optional multiple peril insurance as part of the 40-year old National Flood Insurance Program.

The Senate is debating legislation to bail out and overhaul the program, which expires at the end of September.



AP-CS-05-07-08 1851EDT