Declarations

Lighting Up

“We are hoping this will reduce the number of fire fatalities.”

—Iowa State Fire Marshall James Kenkel comments on a new law that he and others hope will reduce the number of fatal fires in the state. The law requiring the sale of new cigarettes that are less likely to start fires went into effect Jan. 1, 2009. The state Legislature voted last year to approve the sale of the cigarettes that are less likely to cause of fire if they’re dropped, discarded or left near combustible materials. According to statistics from 2008, 10 people died in the state in fires caused by careless smoking. That’s twice as many than in 2007. The overall number of fire deaths this year is 48, up from 30 last year. The tobacco in “fire-safe” cigarettes is wrapped with two or three thin bands of less-porous paper that helps extinguish itself. Similar laws are in effect in at least 21 other states.

The Credit Game

“Consumers are clearly indicating their preferences by choosing which bills they pay, when they pay them and how they would like to work out their delinquencies. Billers who take these cues from this research can gain a distinct advantage in this difficult economic environment.”

—Robert R. Craig, executive vice president and general manager of eCommerce Services for Online Resources comments on a recent survey regarding the habits of Americans in selecting which bills to pay and when. Insurance bills rank as the second highest priority bill for Americans to pay on time, according to a new survey on the bill payment patterns of U.S. households. The third in a series, the survey of more than 1,000 nationally representative U.S. households finds that Americans are not only putting less money into savings, but are dipping into their savings to pay for everyday, necessary living expenses. Under growing constraints, consumers must continue to prioritize among their bills by creating a “delinquency budget.”

Go Green Not Covered

“You got me with a new one here.” And, “It is nothing I have heard of.”

—American Family spokesperson Ken Muth and Mark Schussel, a spokesman for Chubb Group of Insurance Cos., gave similar responses when asked by the Kansas City Star about insurance to cover homeowners who use solar panels or wind turbines. The idea was for the homeowners to be able to send any excess power back to utilities. But the Missouri Public Service Commission, which oversees the utilities, is requiring homeowners to buy insurance before they start feeding electricity to the grid. And it appears that no Missouri insurance companies sell the insurance. However, Brent Butler, government affairs director for nonprofit watchdog group Missouri Insurance Coalition, believes someone will offer the insurance if the judge rules in favor of the Public Service Commission.