Thread: Lawmakers want to repeal NAFTA

Originally Posted by Judy

Originally Posted by Bettybb

Hi Judy,
'
Well I understand you reluctance to have more government involvment with your life.

And I agree totally with doing away with the anti trust exemptions for insurance companies, and that they should be treated like anyother business.

Hey Betty, I think doing away that hat exemption which will move them all out of state regulation into Federal Trade Commission regulation opens up a whole new world for these insurance companies. FTC has the power to fine, sue and collect damages for such practices as predatory sales, fraud and deceptive trade practices. They've gone after banks, leasing companies, telephone companies and kept them honest. CitiBank had to pay the highest fine in the history of the FTC for predatory leasing in its equipment division in 2002 ... $202 million. 3 years later they had to pay a fine charged by the Federal Reserve for predatory lending ... the highest fine every assessed any bank in Federal Reserve history ... $73 million.

Putting the insurance industry under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and Federal Trade Commission Regulation will do wonders to cleaning up this industry. It will also create massive interstate competition that will reduce rates and improve benefits. When our country functions like it supposed to, there's no nation on earth that can compete with us but when we exempt the entire insurance industry from the most important rules of the game, then there's bound to be problems. This needs to be corrected ASAP, and the government doesn't need to invade my life or my bank account or invoke mandates on me to correct the mistakes of the 1945 McCarran Ferguson Act that exempted our insurance industry from all anti-competition behavior laws.

I am not the smartest guy in the world Judy. But in simple terms:



1. The government NOW has the ability and control to open the state boarders to allow insurance competition. Why are they closed in the first place? Are they closed to perpetuate/perpetrate high cost? Would it not make sense to simply open the boarders and let them compete...as free commerce and trade dictates? Would this not be a very simple fix to try before trying an untried massive socialist government experiment?



2. Blaming the insurance companies and attorneys for Tort problems is ludicrous when it is the Judges that hand down the horrifically out of line award decisions. The judges have sworn to protect us and are not. Where is the corruption in our legal system? Has there been a conspiracy between government and the judges to create this situation?



Now...to go into a "follow the money...or power" governmental take over theory...would it not seem that setting up or allowing (or mandating) this to happen is setting the stage for the HR take over? The government proposes to "fix" with a socialistic agenda what they perpetrated in the first place.



Am I totally crazy...cuz this is what I see...?

Originally Posted by hardlineconstitutionalist

Originally Posted by Judy

The Plan:

1. stop illegal immigration
2. pass the FairTax
3. protect our trade
4. legalize/regulate/tax under 2 the illegal drug trade
5. drill baby drill

Hi Judy:

Just got this e mail. Do you think the Fair Tax will be started over again?

I see HR 1207 gained another sponcer!

GovTrack.us Tracked Events Update
This is your email update from www.GovTrack.us.

Note: Some of your trackers are obsolete and won't generate any more events: H.R. 25 [109th]: Fair Tax Act of 2005.


Mar 9, 2010 - Bill Action H.R. 1207: Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009
Cosponsorship change.
Rep. Quigley [D-IL5]: New cosponsor.
(You are seeing this event because you are tracking H.R. 1207: Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009)

The FairTax bill, HR 25 has been introduced every session of Congress since 1999. I don't know what tracker you're looking at but HR 25 was introduced into the US House of Representatives in January 2009 and currently has 61 Sponsors, and SB 296, its sister bill in the US Senate was also introduced into the US Senate in January 2009 and has 4 Sponsors. HB 25 is assigned to the US House Ways and Means Committee waiting for a hearing. If it doesn't get a committee hearing this year, then it will be re-introduced again in January 2011. SB 296 is assigned to the Senate Finance Committee in the Senate.

Originally Posted by hardlineconstitutionalist

Originally Posted by Judy

Originally Posted by Bettybb

Hi Judy,
'
Well I understand you reluctance to have more government involvment with your life.

And I agree totally with doing away with the anti trust exemptions for insurance companies, and that they should be treated like anyother business.

Hey Betty, I think doing away that hat exemption which will move them all out of state regulation into Federal Trade Commission regulation opens up a whole new world for these insurance companies. FTC has the power to fine, sue and collect damages for such practices as predatory sales, fraud and deceptive trade practices. They've gone after banks, leasing companies, telephone companies and kept them honest. CitiBank had to pay the highest fine in the history of the FTC for predatory leasing in its equipment division in 2002 ... $202 million. 3 years later they had to pay a fine charged by the Federal Reserve for predatory lending ... the highest fine every assessed any bank in Federal Reserve history ... $73 million.

Putting the insurance industry under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and Federal Trade Commission Regulation will do wonders to cleaning up this industry. It will also create massive interstate competition that will reduce rates and improve benefits. When our country functions like it supposed to, there's no nation on earth that can compete with us but when we exempt the entire insurance industry from the most important rules of the game, then there's bound to be problems. This needs to be corrected ASAP, and the government doesn't need to invade my life or my bank account or invoke mandates on me to correct the mistakes of the 1945 McCarran Ferguson Act that exempted our insurance industry from all anti-competition behavior laws.

I am not the smartest guy in the world Judy. But in simple terms:



1. The government NOW has the ability and control to open the state boarders to allow insurance competition. Why are they closed in the first place? Are they closed to perpetuate/perpetrate high cost? Would it not make sense to simply open the boarders and let them compete...as free commerce and trade dictates? Would this not be a very simple fix to try before trying an untried massive socialist government experiment?



2. Blaming the insurance companies and attorneys for Tort problems is ludicrous when it is the Judges that hand down the horrifically out of line award decisions. The judges have sworn to protect us and are not. Where is the corruption in our legal system? Has there been a conspiracy between government and the judges to create this situation?



Now...to go into a "follow the money...or power" governmental take over theory...would it not seem that setting up or allowing (or mandating) this to happen is setting the stage for the HR take over? The government proposes to "fix" with a socialistic agenda what they perpetrated in the first place.



Am I totally crazy...cuz this is what I see...?

No you are not crazy at all.

1. In 1945, the US Supreme Court ruled that the insurance industry like all other industries or businesses that conducted interstate commerce were subject to the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and other federal regulations. The US Traitors of Congress, then passed a bill called the McCarran-Ferguson Act which among other things, exempted the entire insurance industry from the Sherman Anti-Trust Act if the insurance company was regulated by a state. That's why the insurance companies are only state regulated instead of regulated by both a state and the federal government under federal anti-trust and other interstate commerce regulations.

Yes, in a 15 minute roll call vote in both houses of Congress, this outrageous anti-consumer, anti-American, anti-free enterprise, anti- everything we stand for as a country that has developed a state controlled insurance cartel that's caused 95% of the issues people have with insurance would be over; anti-trust and anti-competition behavior would end or be severely punished under federal law; free competition on a national basis would reduce rates and increase benefits and options in every state; unfair, fraudulent, predatory and deceptive trade practices would end or be severely punished under federal trade regulations that every other company is regulated by; and the insurance industry would no longer be a topic of conversation any more than a McDonalds, Walmart, Target, Staples or Auto Zone.

I'm not a fan of tort reform, because I believe in the rights of our people to take their complaints and grievances to our courts for remedy. That is how we keep our companies and professionals honest. Are the jury verdicts too high? Well, under our system of tort, they are the ones who a) heard the case b) studied the evidence c) understand the claim and d) decide the damages. I see no reason to restrict the rights or liberties of Americans to sue in our courts for damages to protect doctors, hospitals, or their malpractice or liability insurance companies or anyone else who made a mistake that caused an injury. i think trying to predetermine that with tort reform is not in the best interest of the American People. Juries are citizens no different than you or I or anyone else. When they award, they see a problem they want corrected by the only means we have available to us which is through our courts and with money. If the awards aren't high enough, then no one who is hurting people learns their lessons and the malpractice and negligence continues and people continue to be hurt and damaged usually in horrific ways. It doesn't mean these entities are evil or bad people, it just means through the course of providing a service, they made a mistake that cost someone their life or limbs or minds or other damages.

If doctors, hospitals and malpractice insurance companies spent the time they've spent trying to avoid or limit the liability for their actions to correcting the procedures or circumstances that resulted in the mistake, we'd be far better off in my opinion.

I hope and pray this gains a lot of support, no matter who is drafting it up, and who is promoting it. A patriot is a patriot, and a good patriot will do what it takes to make America better and stronger. Lord knows we cannot be a better nation without jobs and incomes to suuport the people and the nation as a whole.

Thanks Judy: This is the only tracker I know http://www.govtrack.us./congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-25 .

Your logic is as always on point and interesting. But I think that tort reform is needed. Awards that are simply ridiculous hurt more than they help IMHO.

I wonder if there is a bill pending to open the borders for insurance.

Senate Sen. Chuck Keith Olbermann Anti Trust Act
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izuh-4hb5kk

Obama Threatens Insurers' Anti Trust Exemption
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfwFvEhX ... re=related

Originally Posted by AmericanElizabeth

I hope and pray this gains a lot of support, no matter who is drafting it up, and who is promoting it. A patriot is a patriot, and a good patriot will do what it takes to make America better and stronger. Lord knows we cannot be a better nation without jobs and incomes to suuport the people and the nation as a whole.

Like the FairTax, there's been a bill in Congress to do this for almost a decade. It almost passed in 2003 but failed by a small margin.

Here's the bill, being lobbied by our automotive repair companies ... who want the car insurance industry opened up and are fighting like good patriots to open up all insurance. It's HB 1583.

http://www.asashop.org/news/2009/aug2009/PR57.htm

Contact:

Clarence Mills
(202) 543-1440
c.mills@att.net
For Release:


Immediate
News Bulletin PR-57
August 6, 2009
ASA Leaders Meet with Sponsor of McCarran-Ferguson Repeal Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 6, 2009 — The Automotive Service Association (ASA) hosted a Capitol Hill Fly-In event in Washington, D.C., recently for its collision repair members. ASA members met with their representatives and senators to discuss insurance reform, among other issues.

Ron Pyle, Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., Darrell Amberson
ASA leaders meet with Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., sponsor of U.S. House Bill 1583 that would repeal the McCarran-Ferguson Act. ASA supports the repeal of McCarran-Ferguson. Pictured left to right: Ron Pyle, ASA president and chief staff executive; Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss.; and Darrell Amberson, AAM, ASA Collision Division director and president of Lehman’s Garage, Bloomington, Mich.

On Wednesday, July 29, ASA leaders met with Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., sponsor of U.S. House Bill 1583, which would repeal the McCarran-Ferguson Act. Since 1945, insurance companies have had a "limited" exemption from federal antitrust laws that apply to most other industries ensured to them through an act of Congress. The McCarran-Ferguson Act provides that federal antitrust law applies to the "business of insurance" only to the extent that such business is not regulated by state law. The anti-competitive consequences of McCarran impact both consumers and small businesses that have to deal with insurers.

ASA supports H.R. 1583, which is co-sponsored by Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., because:

• Insurers have argued that this exemption allows them to keep insurance rates low. This is simply not the case. A competitive marketplace will only enhance consumers' options.

• The state insurance regulatory structure has failed for consumers and collision repairers. Without federal regulatory recourse, consumer and small business complaints are left to generally ill-equipped state regulators. After years of complaints, many states lag in addressing important consumer and small business property and casualty issues: i.e., consumer steering, insurer pressure to use inferior auto parts, paint caps, etc. These problems are increasing for consumers and repairers, not decreasing.

• State regulators are less likely to recruit top professional employees to oversee increasingly complex insurance products offered by insurers as well as deal with more complicated insurance issues that arise. Federal regulators have access to a degree of human resource and other capital that state agencies do not enjoy.

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry. ASA's headquarters is in Bedford, Texas.

ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to www.ASAshop.org, or visit ASA's legislative Web site at www.TakingTheHill.com.

_______________________________

And, since at least 1989 the ABA, American Bar Association has advocated this policy and repeal of this exemption:

http://www.abanet.org/media/youraba/200 ... cle07.html

______________________________

And, since February 2010, the White House supports the repeal of this exemption:

White House Supports Repeal of McCarran-Ferguson Act

Posted on February 24, 2010

On Tuesday, the White House announced that it would support legislation to repeal the 1945 McCarran-Ferguson act, which provides the health insurance industry with a federal anti-trust exception. The statement came one day before the House of Representatives will vote on the bill and one day after President Obama unveiled his road map to health care overhaul. Some analysts have suggested that the anti-trust legislation was introduced independent of the comprehensive health care overhaul because it seemed to have more bipartisan support. The move also indicates that Democrats may be attempting to pass numerous, smaller bills targeting the health insurance industry as something of a safety net should their comprehensive reform fail.

Proponents of the bill claim, among other things, that health insurers are profiting from their immunity to federal anti-trust regulations, that as a matter of fairness, health insurers should play by the same rules as every other industry, and that a lack of competition is translating to higher consumer costs. The goal of the measure is to foster competition, giving consumers more choices and better prices.

America’s Health Insurance Plans, whose members include some of the industry’s largest insurers, has argued that the industry is already subject to federal antitrust laws with respect to mergers, acquisitions, and other business practices. Moreover, it is highly regulated at the state level and it is unlikely that any change in federal anti-trust provisions would have a practical effect. This argument is, in fact, supported by an October report from the Congressional Budget Office, which concluded that “[the legislation's] effect is likely to be small because state laws already bar the activities that would be prohibited under federal law if this bill was enacted.â€

Originally Posted by Judy

There is nothing wrong with protectionism. Our country was founded on it, the Republican Party was founded on it, the United States grew to be the greatest economic superpower the world has ever known as a result of it and within 15 years Free Trade has destroyed US, bankrupted US, collapsed our economy.

I realize the Free Traders have tried to make the word Protectionist a dirty word, but it isn't. It is the keystone to our economic survival.

Fair trade, not free trade

American jobs For American workers

Americans First in this magnificent country

Originally Posted by vistalad

Originally Posted by Judy

There is nothing wrong with protectionism. Our country was founded on it, the Republican Party was founded on it, the United States grew to be the greatest economic superpower the world has ever known as a result of it and within 15 years Free Trade has destroyed US, bankrupted US, collapsed our economy.

I realize the Free Traders have tried to make the word Protectionist a dirty word, but it isn't. It is the keystone to our economic survival.

Fair trade, not free trade

American jobs For American workers

Americans First in this magnificent country

Absolutely, vistalad. You got it right!!