Declarations
Taking additional steps
“With online banking, bill paying, and shopping increasing exponentially each year, we must take additional steps to protect our identities, provide help to those who have become victims, and make sure those who are committing the crimes are punished appropriately.”
— Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel. According to the AG’s office, identity theft is a priority of McDaniel’s and he favors several bills to protect consumers. One would give Arkansans the ability to “freeze” their consumer credit reports when their identity has been stolen. Another bill expands current law to address financial and non financial ID theft, requires restitution for victims and creates tougher penalties.
No additional tax for mixed use
“Most small business owners and professionals use their personal vehicles for both personal and business purposes. This mixed use should not warrant an additional tax burden.”
–Texas State Rep. Harvey Hilderbran (Kerrville), announcing he filed House Bill 1022 and House Joint Resolution 54, which clarify that personal vehicles used for the production of income are exempt from ad valorem taxation. HB 1022 and HJR 54 are jointly authored by Ways and Means Chairman Jim Keffer (Eastland), Rep. John Otto (Dayton), Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer (San Antonio) and Rep. Robert “Robby” Cook (Eagle Lake).
Meet us halfway
“Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were only the first disasters to devastate our people; we must not allow insurance to become the second disaster. … We have taken bold steps to right what was wrong in Louisiana, but the insurance industry must meet us halfway if our people are to realize the benefits of our work — lower insurance rates.”
–Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, addressing members of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) Board of Governors at a meeting in California. Blanco and Commissioner of Insurance James Donelon met with the insurers extend the state’s welcome mat to highest levels of the insurance industry in the hopes of attracting more companies to write policies in the state. Blanco outlined the state’s work to mitigate storm damage – from reforming levee boards to adopting statewide building codes. While in California, Blanco also met with international insurance risk modelers — AIR Worldwide and Risk Management Solutions Inc.
Making fun of K-Fed
“We’re not making fun of anybody, except maybe Kevin Federline.”
–Steven Schreibman, vice president of advertising and brand management for Nationwide Insurance, defending an ad showing Kevin Federline dreaming about being a star and waking up as a cook in a fast food restaurant. The television ad, which ran during the Feb. 4 Super Bowl game, was criticized by the National Restaurant Association as picturing a job in a fast food restaurant as demeaning and unpleasant.