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Rosenfield on Proposition 103

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The voters of California demanded lower insurance rates when the majority voted in Proposition 103 last November. I thought that message was loud and clear. But here it’s April--almost six months after the election--and everything is the same as it was. Why haven’t the rates been lowered?

Well, in the first place, the rich and powerful insurance industry, which last year spent nearly $80 million fighting to make sure rates weren’t lowered, filed a suit against Proposition 103 claiming it’s unconstitutional, and we’re still waiting for a ruling.

In the second place, the powerful insurance lobby still holds sway in Sacramento, and several insurance reform measures have stalled because most members of the Legislature, particularly the Republican members, don’t want to offend anyone, except perhaps the vast majority of the people of California.

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I know people who simply can’t afford insurance. I know people whose policy payments are twice their car payment. The situation is outrageous!

We need to build up some steam, similar to the heat generated around election time, when the insurance companies were squirming, and let the industry and Sacramento know that we need lower rates and we need ‘em now!

THOMAS J. VANDEVELD

San Diego

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