President Trump's budget proposal to increase premiums to preserve the federal flood insurance program is meeting with plenty of criticism in New Jersey.
Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty says a sharp increase in flood insurance premiums would be a mistake.
"We still have thousands of people in New Jersey that aren't back home from Sandy and also thousands that are but they're still getting back on their feet because they went through their savings, they went through their 401k, to get back home. So, to slap them now with a massive increase in flood insurance premiums is remarkably bad and unacceptable."
New Jersey Sierra Club director Jeff Tittel says the increase is not about protecting people.
"It would be one thing if the increase was based on a risk assessment, charging more to properties that are in more vulnerable locations where the damages could be greater, but this is really just an across-the-board robbery of people who have flood insurance or live in flood-prone areas."
Several New Jersey Congressmen are also criticizing the proposal, saying higher premiums could make it unaffordable for some people to keep their homes.