Drunken System
“It is surprising to the authors that these tragedies do not occur more frequently than they do in Kansas. As we studied this issue, we found many things that need attention, and many parts of the system about which we could be critical. It is this entire system that needs repair, or more appropriately reconstruction.”
—The Kansas Substance Abuse Policy Board in its report that found the state’s system for punishing drunken drivers is “so complex and so dysfunctional that it is likely impervious to quick fixes.”
Simply Put
“Simply put, Governor, auto insurance has become unaffordable for a significant and growing portion of our population, at the same time industry profits have skyrocketed to their highest levels in U.S. history, even factoring in the losses from September 11, 2001, and Hurricane Katrina. Moreover, these rising profits have grown proportionally with a 30-year expansion in industry deregulation. Today, Michigan has the weakest laws in America for regulating the insurance industry,”
—Melvin Butch Hollowell, Michigan insurance consumer advocate, in his report to Gov. Jennifer Granholm calling for major reform of the state’s auto insurance system. Granholm endorsed the report and called for an auto insurance rate freeze for 12 months to give lawmakers time to implement its recommendations.
Grandstanding
“The advocate’s report ignores the very high costs inherent in Michigan’s no-fault auto insurance system and makes regressive policy recommendations that could harm an otherwise stable, competitive market. Unless the governor can freeze medical, litigation, motor vehicle crash and other costs, this is simply anti-competitive, anti-business and anti-consumer grandstanding. ”
—David Snyder, vice president and assistant general counsel for the American Insurance Association, rejecting Hollowell’s report and Gov. Granholm’s call for a rate freeze.
Whistleblower Protection
“The lessons of the WSI whistleblowers … have a chilling effect on other state employees. The way it is seen, broadly, is that several state employees blew the whistle and then ended up losing their jobs. Wrongdoing at the agency was eventually confirmed … but the damage to the employees had been done.”
—North Dakota Sen. Tracy Potter, D-Bismarck, in sponsoring legislation that would strengthen protections for “whistleblowers.” He said the dismissals of four Workforce Safety and Insurance employees after they questioned how the agency was being run showed current state law intended to guard against such firings is almost useless.
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