Latest Politics Headlines
All the headlines from our Politics Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Senate Votes to Renew National Flood Insurance Program
Jun 16 2004 // The U.S. Senate passed legislation by unanimous consent on June 15 that reauthorizes the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for five years. The reauthorization was part of S. 2238, which reforms the program. The...
Michigan Senate Takes Up Bill to Keep Insurers From Steering Claims
Jun 1 2004 // Auto insurers could not restrict policyholders from using the repair shop of their choice under legislation to be considered by the Michigan state Senate. Critics say some insurers currently send or direct claim holders to...
Democratic Med-Mal Plan Fails in Illinois House
May 28 2004 // The Illinois House of Representatives has voted down a Democratic medical malpractice reform plan that would have given the state’s insurance department the power to rein in rates it deemed excessive and created a...
Mass. Senate Approves Anti-Runner Bill, 39-0
May 21 2004 // The Massachusetts Senate has passed a bill to criminalize the practices of runners in insurance fraud schemes. The measure passed 39-0 and was sent to the House. The measure makes it a crime to engage in the practice of...
California Senate OKs Bills Expanding Firebreaks and Insurance Rights
May 20 2004 // Bills to expand firebreaks around some rural homes and give homeowners greater insurance rights were approved recently by the state Senate. The four measures were introduced in response to the fires that ravaged large...
Insurers Urge Senate Panel to Extend TRIA
May 18 2004 // Congress should act this year to extend the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) for two years beyond its Dec. 31, 2005, expiration date because the private market alone cannot deal with further catastrophic terrorist...
Asbestos Negotiations Die in U.S. Senate
May 10 2004 // The Senate was unsuccessful in keeping negotiations alive at creating a federally run asbestos trust fund (S. 2290) to compensate victims of asbestos diseases. Talks ended when parties mutually agreed to disagree over how...
Missouri GOP Looks to Override Gov. Holden’s Veto of Med-Mal Award Caps; Insurers Won’t Promise Rate Cuts
May 10 2004 // Missouri Republicans are trying to override a veto by Democratic Gov. Bob Holden of a bill that placed caps on pain-and-suffering awards in medical malpractice cases, according to the Associated Press. Holden vetoed a...
TENNESSEE SENATE REPUBLICANS READY FOR WORKERS’ COMP REFORM:
May 3 2004 // Tennessee Senate Republicans stand ready to move the Volunteer State forward with a comprehensive workers’ compensation reform bill sponsored by Senator Mark Norris (R-Collierville). The bill, Senate Bill 3169, can...
GOP INTRODUCES ASBESTOS LITIGATION REFORM IN U.S. SENATE:
May 3 2004 // Asbestos litigation reform legislation introduced recently by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) represents a significant step forward in the...
R.I. Senate Passes Smoking Ban
May 3 2004 // The Rhode Island Senate on a 25-7 vote passed legislation that would ban smoking in nearly every public place in Rhode Island. The Rhode Island Workers’ Safety Act of 2004 (2004 – S2029A), sponsored by Sen. V....
R.I. Senate Votes to Close Drunk Driving Loophole
Apr 30 2004 // The Rhode Island Senate has unanimously passed a bill to hold drunk drivers accountable for injuruies and deaths they cause. Under the legislation, DNA laced blood, fluids and body tissue could be taken from suspects who...
PCI Disappointed as Senate Blocks Consideration of Asbestos Bill
Apr 23 2004 // The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America expressed disappointment that Senate Democrats blocked consideration of a bill (S. 2290) (see IJ Website April 20) to reform the asbestos litigation system, calling it...
Connnecticut Republicans Push for Med-Mal Caps
Apr 22 2004 // If medical malpractice legislation comes to the floor of the Connecticut House before it adjourns on May 5, Republicans plan on attaching provisions to cap medical awards. Legislative committees weighing the issue for...
Agents Hear Updates on Regulatory Reform, 2004 Senate Races
Apr 22 2004 // Washington, D.C. – With a packed attendance for the Thursday morning breakfast session, independent agents at the 28th Annual Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers’ 2004 National Legislative Conference,...
Joint Letter from Six Insurance Associations Urges Congressional Leaders to Reauthorize TRIA
Apr 20 2004 // In a joint letter to Michael G. Oxley, (R-Ohio), Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Services, and Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.), Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, six of the most prominent U.S. insurance...
Asbestos Bill to Reach Senate Floor
Apr 20 2004 // Republican Senators, led by Utah’s Orrin Hatch, plan to introduce legislation today to establish a fund of up to $124 billion to compensate victims of asbestos related diseases. The measure has been in the works for...
MINN. SENATE COMMITTEE PASSES PIP REFORM BILL:
Apr 19 2004 // Insurers are optimistic that a Minnesota Senate bill designed to curb fraud abuses in auto personal injury protection (PIP) will move quickly through the legislature, according to the Des Plaines, Ill.-based Property...
NORTH CAROLINA SENATE CANDIDATE SIGNS PLEDGE BACKING MEDICAL LIABILITY REFORM:
Apr 19 2004 // The North Carolina Chapter of Doctors for Medical Liability Reform announced that Congressman Richard Burr, currently running for U.S. Senate, has signed their pledge supporting federal legislation that would limit...
COLORADO SENATE PASSES NCOIL INSURANCE SCORING LEGISLATION:
Apr 19 2004 // The Colorado Senate passed legislation, SB 216, that follows the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) credit-based insurance scoring model act. “This legislation provides lawmakers a positive...
