Business

OVERNIGHT MONEY: Fiscal fights on backburner

by Vicki Needham and Erik Wasson - 09/09/13 10:15 PM ET

{mosads}If Congress can move quickly on the emotional and prickly Syrian question, that would give lawmakers time to put together a bill that would provide a short reprieve — a month or two — to reach an agreement to fund the government for the next year while tackling the looming debt-ceiling question.

WHAT ELSE WE’RE WATCHING

Filling open slots: The Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday will consider the nominations of Wanda Felton to serve as the first vice president of the Export-Import Bank and Katherine O’Regan to be an assistant secretary for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Flooded with trouble: A continuing resolution to keep the government funded faces yet another hurdle beyond what to do about spending cuts and the healthcare law.

Now most of the Louisiana delegation is demanding that National Flood Insurance Program changes be attached to the bill.

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) on Monday spearheaded a letter to House and Senate leaders demanding language that prevents the government from raising flood insurance rates based on a remapping of flood zones. Landrieu had included the language in the fiscal 2014 Homeland Security appropriations bill, which has no chance of becoming law before the fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

Reform proponents say flood insurance needs to better reflect the market to discourage risky building and fix the NFIP’s financial problems. The majority of the Louisiana delegation says the spike in rates is unfair and based on error. Sen. David Vitter and Reps. Rodney Alexander, Charles Boustany Jr., Steve Scalise, Cedric Richmond and Bill Cassidy signed the letter.

Landrieu’s move comes as Democratic leaders are trying to woo her on backing military action in Syria.

Housing program overview: A House Financial Services subcommittee will tackle ways to improve federal housing programs with David Montoya, inspector general of the Housing and Urban Development Department.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

JOLTS: The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) for July evaluates the labor market’s data on job openings, hires, and separations.

WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

— IRS nominee discloses personal fortune, promises to sell off stock

— CBO: Deficit reaches $750 billion for 2013

— Manufacturing activity picking up but concerns remain

— Baucus, Camp make fourth stop on tax reform tour

— Improving number of housing markets hit record high in September

— Survey: Fed taper talk chilling consumer hopes for housing market

— Regulators turn focus to high-speed traders

— Report: Economic growth expected to pick up pace next year

Catch us on Twitter: @VickoftheHill, @peteschroeder, @elwasson and @berniebecker3