Declarations

“Valero’s Port Arthur refinery has a poor compliance record even when compared to other Texas oil refineries, spewing out millions of pounds of dangerous pollution into surrounding neighborhoods.”

– Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas, regarding the group’s plans to file a lawsuit group, along with the Sierra Club and the Port Arthur Community Action Network, against Valero Energy Corp. over air pollution stemming from the company’s Port Arthur refinery. The organizations allege over 600 violations of pollution limits by the refinery since 2014.

“We want a negotiated solution. This is our failsafe if they can’t come to one.”

– Jared Fleisher, vice president of government affairs at Detroit-based Quicken Loans, speaking about a ballot drive initiative backed by Quicken founder Dan Gilbert that would bring the problem of the Michigan’s sky-high auto insurance rates to voters. The aim is to empower GOP lawmakers to overhaul the state’s no-fault law without having to worry about a gubernatorial veto.

“All New Yorkers pay a price for insurance fraud, which drives up premiums across the board.”

– New York Attorney General Letitia James, in a press release regarding an insurance fraud scheme allegedly perpetrated by a Bronx County man, Barrington Mayne. Though not an insurance broker, Mayne allegedly used his contacts at various car dealerships throughout Brooklyn, N.Y., to steal thousands of dollars from car buyers who were tricked into paying him insurance premiums for purported insurance policies.