Rep. David Nathans' Site Feed

Rep. David Nathan speaks about Democratic Detroit Caucus No-Fault Insurance Reform Bills

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:04:00 -0400

Rep. David Nathan speaks to the importance of insurance reform and the legislative package of bills announced by the Detroit Democratic Caucus.

Detroit Democratic Caucus Announces Auto No-Fault Bills

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:38:00 -0400

Detroit Democratic Caucus Chairman Representative Thomas F. Stallworth III (D-Detroit), joined by Detroit Democratic Representatives Brian Banks (D-Harper Woods), Phil Cavanagh (D-Redford Township), Fred Durhal Jr. (D-Detroit), David Nathan (D-Detroit), Rose Mary Robinson (D-Detroit), Harvey Santana (D-Detroit), Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (D-Detroit), and Rashida H. Tlaib (D-Detroit) announced their own auto no-fault reform package that would save Michigan residents money while fighting fraud and demanding transparency from the insurance industry.

Detroit Democratic Caucus Announces Auto No-Fault Bills

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:44:00 -0400

DETROIT - Detroit Democratic Caucus Chairman Representative Thomas F. Stallworth III (D-Detroit), joined by Detroit Democratic Representatives Brian Banks (D-Harper Woods), Phil Cavanagh (D-Redford Township), Fred Durhal Jr. (D-Detroit), David Nathan (D-Detroit), Rose Mary Robinson (D-Detroit), Harvey Santana (D-Detroit), Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (D-Detroit), and Rashida H. Tlaib (D-Detroit) announced their own auto no-fault reform package that would save Michigan residents money while fighting fraud and demanding transparency from the insurance industry. The legislators announced their legislative package at a Detroit press conference where they were joined by local church leaders and Detroit residents.

“Michigan’s auto insurance policies are completely broken,” said Stallworth. The fact that 30 percent of Michigan drivers and 60 percent of Detroit drivers are uninsured when combined with the fact that Michigan’s auto insurance industry is the second most profitable in the nation is a clear indication that rates are excessive.”

Detroiters pay some of the highest auto insurance rates in the nation.

The Detroit Democratic Auto No-Fault Package would:

Restructure the board with public interests instead of insurance interests. Create a commission to track fraud, waste and abuse. Collect the MCCA assessment at the Secretary of State instead of through insurance companies. (Cavanagh)
Require insurance companies to justify rate increases before they’re imposed on drivers and stipulate that 80 percent of premiums collected must be spent on clients. (Stallworth)
Prohibit the consideration of credit history, education and occupation in determining premiums and surcharges. (Tinsley-Talabi)
Allow refunds ordered by a commissioner and allow private parties to sue when auto insurance overcharges their policy holders. (Tlaib)
Disallow steerage to collision shop owned by the insurance company. (Banks)

The Republican-sponsored no-fault bill, which was recently voted out of committee with no Democratic votes, would offer a savings of $125 per vehicle that is only guaranteed for one year. That bill would also eliminate unlimited medical benefits for the most seriously injured accident victims and, instead, cap those benefits at $1 million. The Republican bill dissolves the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) after it has paid out its final claim, and creates the new Michigan Catastrophic Claims Corp (MCCC) to collect a fee from auto owners and handle new claims when the bill becomes law. The MCCA will still collect an annual fee from drivers to cover a $2 billion deficit they claim.

“Drivers are tired of paying high premium yet want to keep the benefits they are currently receiving from our auto no-fault system. Replacing the MCCA with the MCCC and capping everything for a guaranteed one-year savings of $125 is not helping anyone but the insurance companies,” said Cavanagh. “Gutting the system is not reform. We looked into every aspect included in a no-fault policy to see where real changes resulting in real savings could be made.”

“With the proposed changes to Michigan’s Auto No-Fault system affecting every driver in the state of Michigan, we looked at the entire picture to come up with reform that would result in actual savings without hacking up the system,” said Banks.

“The unfortunate situation, in many cases, is that a car insurance premium is often higher than the value of the car,” said Tlaib.” Making auto insurance more affordable throughout Michigan, but particularly in urban regions, should be one of the state’s top priorities.

The Detroit Democratic Caucus will also host an Auto No-Fault Reform Town Hall Meeting to discuss proposed changes to the system and how that will affect every driver tonight, Monday, May 20, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Salem Memorial Lutheran Church, 21230 Moross Road at Chester in Detroit.

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Detroit Caucus Hosts Auto No-Fault Town Hall to Discuss Harmful Changes Proposed in Republican Bill

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:43:08 -0400

DETROIT - Detroit Caucus Chairman Rep. Thomas F. Stallworth III and Detroit Caucus members Reps. Brian Banks (D- Grosse Pointe Woods), Phil Cavanagh (D-Redford), Fred Durhal Jr. (D-Detroit), David Nathan (D-Detroit), Harvey Santana (D-Detroit), Rose Mary Robinson (D-Detroit), Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (D-Detroit) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) will hold a town hall on the proposed changes to Michigan’s auto no-fault law on Thursday, May 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Northwest Activity Center, 18100 Meyers at Curtis in Detroit. The proposed legislation would significantly alter Michigan’s current no-fault insurance system and would, among other changes, cap injury benefits at $1 million for accident victims. This event is free and open to the public.

WHO:Detroit Caucus Chairman Rep. Thomas F. Stallworth III and Detroit Caucus members Reps. Brian Banks (D-Grosse Pointe Woods), Phil Cavanagh (D-Redford), Fred Durhal Jr. (D-Detroit), David Nathan (D-Detroit), Harvey Santana (D-Detroit), Rose Mary Robinson (D-Detroit), Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (D-Detroit) and Rashida H. Tlaib (D-Detroit)

WHERE:Northwest Activity Center

18100 Meyers at Curtis

Detroit

WHEN:Thursday, May 9, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Rep. David Nathan Speaks Against the Final Passage of HB 4118

Thu, 02 May 2013 13:24:00 -0400

Rep. David Nathan speaks against HB4118. This bill requires drug testing and screening to be eligible for family independent assistance program (FIP) benefits.

Nathan Rejects Change in DDOT Funds

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

LANSING â�� State Representative David Nathan (D-Detroit) joined with members of the Detroit Caucus today to oppose the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments’ (SEMCOG) plan to change the funding formula currently used for Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) and SMART. The proposed change would mean that DDOT would lose $7 million that could have gone for new buses and maintenance.

“The proposed change would take away significant amounts of money from DDOT, a system that many Detroiters depend on,” said Nathan. “The financial crisis facing our city has already left the city without enough bus routes. Making public transportation less accessible, when many residents cannot afford their own vehicles, is going to hurt the city. Those who are blessed enough to have jobs will have an even more difficult time getting to them.”

Following Gov. Rick Snyder’s designation of SEMCOG as being responsible for controlling funds for DDOT and SMART, SEMCOG’s proposed a change that would allocate federal funding based on population rather than ridership. SMART is a suburban bus line, so it serves a larger population than DDOT, which only serves the city. Yet, DDOT buses serve three times as many riders daily as SMART â��106,000 riders daily for DDOT compared to about 35,000 for SMART, according to a recent Detroit Free Press editorial.

The SEMCOG proposal would divide federal funding by population which would mean that DDOT would get 48 percent of the federal money and SMART would get 51 percent. The Federal Transportation Administration has asked for a documented funding formula, but they have not requested any changes and have not said that ridership and their needs shouldn’t be factored into the formula. Many Detroiters lack cars and rely on DDOT buses to get to work, school, doctor appointments and grocery stores. Fewer buses would also mean that elementary, middle and high school students would face even longer waits at bus stops, which would put them at greater risk from gangs and others who would see them as easy prey.

“This proposal is criminal. Lord knows Detroit has seen enough destruction at the hands of the Snyder administration,” Nathan said. “I vehemently reject Snyder’s decision to allow SEMCOG to change the existing formula, and I urge SEMCOG to reconsider this change. Its time Detroit is given a chance. I refuse to stand by and watch as DDOT is crippled by those who are supposed to be representing the good of the state.”

Rep. David Nathan Speaks Out Against EAA

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:46:00 -0400

State Representative David Nathan (D-Detroit) spoke in opposition to legislation that would expand the Educational Achievement Authority (EAA) in Michigan on the House floor March 21. House Bill 4369, narrowly passed, 57-53.

Rep. Nathan Invites Residents to Attend Community Coffee Hour

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 11:42:11 -0400

State Representative David Nathan (D-Detroit) invites community members to his regular coffee hour, which gives residents an opportunity to present questions, concerns and ideas to Rep. Nathan in an informal setting. Important issues related to the district will be addressed by the Legislature in the coming months, so it is crucial that Rep. Nathan stays in touch with those he represents. Rep. Nathan hosts a coffee hour on the first and third Mondays of every month. This event is free, and all residents are invited.

Next week’s coffee hour will take place on Monday, March 18, from 6 to 7 p.m. at McDonald’s, 18403 Grand River Ave. in Detroit