Washington News

Search Is On for Medical Malpractice Reform Without Strict Award Limits

President Barack Obama’s willingness to consider alternatives to medical malpractice lawsuits is providing a boost for taking such cases out of the courtroom and letting experts, not juries, decide their merits. The idea of appointing neutral experts to sift malpractice …

Top Executives at AIG Financial, Other Bailed Out Firms to See Pay Cuts

Top earners at financial and auto companies bailed out by the U.S. government will see their pay slashed under an Obama administration plan aimed at addressing public outrage over eye-popping paychecks, two sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. …

Study: Workers’ Compensation Public Options Outperform Private Industry

An insurance industry think tank has concluded that 25 public and quasi-public workers’ compensation insurance plans perform better financially than the private market in a number of performance categories and at least as well when it comes to the bottom …

Obama to Boost Small Business Lending

President Barack Obama will announce a package of initiatives Wednesday to increase credit to small businesses, an administration official said Tuesday. “The proposal will increase the caps for existing SBA (Small Business Administration) loans and give small banks better access …

Climate Talks Now ‘in the Balance,’ But Some Hints of Progress

Prospects for a new U.N. climate pact in December remained in the balance after talks among big emitters on Monday but with signs of action by Brazil, India and Australia. “It’s more do-able today than yesterday,” British energy and climate …

Brazil Plans Doha Trade Meeting in late November

Brazil plans to organize a meeting of trade ministers in late November to discuss progress in the World Trade Organization’s long-running Doha round, a senior Brazilian official said Monday. The meeting would be an opportunity to take stock of the …

Republicans Seek to Add Malpractice, Kill Individual Mandate in Health Bill

Republicans will seek amendments to parts of the Democrat’s healthcare reform they oppose, rather than push for an alternative plan to overhaul the $2.5 trillion system, a key senator said Monday. Conservatives are seeking changes that would limit medical malpractice …

Washington Commissioner Warns Against Flooding Exclusions

The Washington State Insurance Commissioner has issued a warning to property insurers with policies in the Green River Valley not to categorically deny flood claims. The Howard Hanson Dam, above the valley, has been found to have structural weakness that …

Pressure Builds for More States to Ban Cell Phone Use While Driving

Opening a Sept. 30 government meeting on auto safety, the Obama administration reported that nearly 6,000 people were killed and a half-million injured last year in vehicle crashes connected to driver distraction, a striking indication of the dangers of using …

Private Insurers Avoiding Washington Area Army Corps Says Will Flood Soon

Insurance brokers say private insurers won’t sell flood insurance in Kent, Renton, Auburn and Tukwila where the Corps of Engineers says Green River flooding is likely this winter. Federal insurance is still available but capped at $500,000 for a structure …