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(A letter from the Washington State Insurance Commissioner)
Dear Friends:
Every year, my office receives thousands of complaints from auto owners,
homeowners, property owners, and small business owners about delays and denials
of legitimate insurance claims.
That's unacceptable -- and that's why I'm urging all Washington voters to
Approve Referendum 67.
Please join me and show your support for Referendum 67 -- invite your friends
and family to sign the Approve 67 online petition now!
Consumers just want their insurance companies to honor the commitments they made
to them. Referendum 67 will help ensure that insurance companies treat
Washington consumers fairly. It's a common sense ballot measure that's good for
the hard-working people of our state.
Unfortunately, the insurance industry is threatening to spend nearly $8 million
to try to defeat Referendum 67 with a campaign of misinformation. So let me help
set the record straight:
Auto and homeowner insurance premiums will not go up because of Referendum 67.
The fact is that if insurance companies treat their own policyholders the way
they are required to be treated by law, insurance rates won't change. The only
insurance companies with something to fear are those who make a practice of
acting in bad faith with their own customers.
Health insurance premiums will not go up because of Referendum 67. The fact is
that health insurance plans are specifically excluded from being covered.
Insurers will not be deluged by frivolous claims because of Referendum 67.
Referendum 67 simply requires insurance companies to pay legitimate claims in a
timely fashion and makes it illegal if they don't. Insurance companies playing
by the rules will not have any additional requirements under Referendum 67.
In fact, insurance companies who treat their customers fairly will actually have
an advantage in the marketplace because competitors that don't treat
policyholders fairly will be subject to court-approved penalties. What's more,
all penalties assessed against an insurance company charged with unfair
practices must be court-approved under Referendum 67.
Here's the bottom line: Referendum 67 simply will make sure that insurance
companies treat Washington consumers fairly. Is that really too much to ask?
I hope you'll join me in supporting Referendum 67 -- invite your friends and
family to sign the Approve 67 online petition now!
The insurance industry is spending millions of dollars to defeat this common
sense initiative -- but with your support, we can spread the word and Approve 67
this November.
Thanks for your help!
Sincerely,
Mike Kreidler
Washington State Insurance Commissioner
P.S. Please forward this email to every Washington voter you know so we can set
the record straight about Referendum 67.
The Approve 67 campaign has been endorsed by the following:
Organizations
AARP
American Federation of Teachers – Washington
American Federation of Teachers – Local 4184
Brain Injury Association of Washington
Carpenters Union #1797
Center for Justice and Democracy
Clark County Labor Roundtable
Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) – Puget Sound Chapter
El Centro De La Raza
Graphic Communications Conference / International Brotherhood of Teamsters #767M
Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights
International Association of Machinists #751
International Union of Operating Engineers #302
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades #5
Joint Council of Teamsters #28
Lathing Acoustical Drywall Systems (LADS) #1144
Laborers Local 252
Legacy of Equality, Leadership, and Organizing (LELO)
Mental Health Association of Washington
NAACP State Conference
National Alliance on Mental Illness – Greater Seattle
Northwest Federation of Community Organizations
Northwest Paralyzed Veterans of America
Pierce County Building and Construction Trades Council
Public Citizen
Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans
Resident Councils of Washington
Retired Public Employees’ Council of Washington
Seattle National Organization of Women (NOW)
Service Employees International Union – State Council
Sheet Metal Workers #66
Snohomish County Labor Council
United Food and Commercial Workers
USAction
WashPIRG (Washington Public Interest Research Group)
Washington Community Action Network
Washington Education Association
Washington Fraternal Order of Police
Washington State Alliance for Retired Americans
Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council
Washington State Chiropractic Association
Washington State Council of Firefighters
Washington State Democratic Party
Washington Federation of State Employees (AFSCME)
Washington State National Organization of Women (NOW)
Washington State Labor Council (AFL-CIO)
Washington State Senior Citizens’ Lobby
Individuals
Governor Christine Gregoire
Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler
King County Executive Ron Sims
Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg
Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels
East Wenatchee Mayor Steve Lacy
State Representative Frank Chopp, Speaker of the House
State Senator Lisa Brown, Senate Majority Leader
State Senator Tracey Eide
State Senator Darlene Fairley
State Senator Brian Hatfield
State Senator Steve Hobbs
State Senator Ken Jacobsen
State Senator Karen Keiser
State Senator Derek Kilmer
State Senator Adam Kline
State Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles
State Senator Chris Marr
State Senator Rosemary McAuliffe
State Senator Ed Murray
State Senator Eric Oemig
State Senator Erik Poulsen
State Senator Margarita Prentice
State Senator Craig Pridemore
State Senator Debbie Regala
State Senator Harriet Spanel
State Senator Rodney Tom
State Senator Brian Weinstein
State Representative Sherry Appleton
State Representative Brian Blake
State Representative Tom Campbell
State Representative Judy Clibborn
State Representative Maralyn Chase
State Representative Eileen Cody
State Representative Steve Conway
State Representative Jeannie Darneille
State Representative Mary Lou Dickerson
State Representative Hans Dunshee
State Representative Dennis Flannigan
State Representative Bill Grant
State Representative Tami Green
State Representative Bob Hasewega
State Representative Zack Hudgins
State Representative Sam Hunt
State Representative Steve Kirby
State Representative John Lovick
State Representative Joe McDermott
State Representative Jim McIntire
State Representative Mark Miloscia
State Representative Jim Moeller
State Representative Dawn Morrell
State Representative Timm Ormsby
State Representative Jamie Pedersen
State Representative Mary Helen Roberts
State Representative Christine Rolfes
State Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos
State Representative Larry Seaquist
State Representative Mike Sells
State Representative Geoff Simpson
State Representative Brian Sullivan
State Representative Pat Sullivan
State Representative Dave Upthegrove
State Representative Kevin Van De Wege
State Representative Deb Wallace
State Representative Brendan Williams
Deborah Senn, Former Insurance Commissioner
Pat Thibaudeau, Former State Senator
Gene Lux, Former State Senator
Arch Miller, Vancouver Port Commissioner
Dale Foreman, Rancher, Former Republican Party Chair
Gary Pearson, President, Northwest Paralyzed Veterans Association
Newspapers
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Olympian
The Columbian
Everett Herald
Tri-City Herald
Kitsap Sun
Yakima Herald-Republic
The Stranger
Tacoma News Tribune
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