Declarations

Bubble wrap

“At what point are we going to wrap our children in Bubble Wrap and send them to school just because some kid might trip them on the playground?”

Comments made by State Rep. Deb Peters, R-Hartford, in support of the demise of a law to be enacted that would have required booster seats for children who are 5, 6 and 7 years old in South Dakota. The House failed this week to override Gov. Mike Rounds’ veto of the legislation, meaning it is dead. Although HB1189 would have required booster seats for children who are too big for child-safety seats, but not yet big enough to be properly restrained in seat belts, it provided no penalty. Officers could only have issued warning tickets.

Same sex partners

“Literally dozens of our major companies and employers offer domestic partnership health benefits to their employees. It really is a case of fairness, and of recruiting and retaining the best workforce possible.”

Comments made by State Senator Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, in support of the recent vote by the Minnesota Senate to allow same-sex partners of state workers to buy into the state’s health insurance program–even as opponents charged it was a stealth attempt to clear a path for legalized gay marriage. Supporters said they only want to provide equal treatment to all people who work for the state, regardless of sexual orientation. “Including this (provision) in the bill puts us squarely in the mainstream of Minnesota business,” Pappas said. At this writing the bill is scheduled to be considered in the House of Representatives.

Game over?

“We have tried to reach resolution and can only describe their settlement demands as excessive and unreasonable: both in terms of magnitude and in their demands that we change legitimate business practices in states outside their legal jurisdictions … We have declined these demands and are preparing to resolve the issues in court.”

Comments made through a Liberty Mutual Insurance Company statement reiterated its intention to continue its court fight against charges begun by former New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer that it engaged in anti-competitive bid rigging and broker compensation practices. A judge declined the insurer’s bid to dismiss the attorney general’s suit. The Boston-based insurer has maintained that charges regarding improper commissions and bid rigging are untrue and overblown and has refused to settle with the states. Last May, Liberty Mutual said it had been unable to reach a resolution and believed the states’ settlement demands were excessive.