Texas: Prop 12: More ethics problems for Repukes

[Ilsa]

http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/stories/080803dnedinixon.146d5.html

Like so many Texas homeowners, state Rep. Joe Nixon, R-Houston, suffered mold damage to his home.

And like so many homeowners, his insurer, Farmers Insurance, questioned part of his claim. SNIP

So when Farmers realized that Mr. Nixon was also Rep. Nixon, and could cast votes in Austin, the company apparently coughed up $13,000 for damage that occurred during the mold cleanup. That's on top of a $300,000 payment for mold damage to the home. SNIP

The apparent smoking guns are internal Farmers' e-mails obtained by the Quorum Report, an Austin-based political newsletter with a reputation for smart political reporting. According to one e-mail, Farmers' Phoenix-based national mold manager in early April questioned a decision to pay Mr. Nixon's claim, which the manager deemed "a noncovered loss."

In an e-mail reply, another Farmers executive wrote that three high-ranking Farmers executives, including a company lobbyist, urged him to make the payment because they "wanted Mr. Nixon to be a friend of Farmers in the legislative session."

snip

Nixon has been a big supporter of Prop 12, to limit doctors' and insurers' liability, supporting it in the Legislature and debating in its favor on the road.

(Sorry about the edit; I accidentally added the post before it was ready.)

[Gman]

1. Vote NO on everything

everything on the ballot was passed by a puke legislature and signed by a puke governor. There can be NOTHING good about ANY of it.

[alarimer]

3. Prop 11

I sort of like prop 11 which allows wineries in dry counties to sell wine on premises. But the rest are worthless.

[Yupster]

4. No matter who proposed it or commenced it...

I'm against it.

Actually Prop 12 is a tough one.

I'm getting info from insurance companies and lawyers groups. I wish they could all lose.

[alarimer]

2. mold claims

Many mold claims are fraudulent. I do believe that there are many lawyers making lots of money off this; but it still is not right for the Legislature to limit damage awards in any way. Supporters of Prop. 12 are using scare tactice in their ads to get people to vote for it: Save your doctor, vote for Prop. 12. There are no ads for the rest of the propositions and I hear very few ads on TV or the radio against Prop. 12 so I think it will pass.

[Ilsa]

5. We just decided the other day how to vote.

We'll be voting NO on this, and several other props. The problem is that the wording on this prop is too far reaching, beyond medical, protecting staff-shorting hospitals, and limiting award to "economic value" of a poor mom or disabled child, etc.

[DifferentStrokes]

6. Information about toxic mold

to replace the errors posted here can be found in part by going to http://www.insure.com/.

At the top and to the left is a box that says "Need Advice? 3,000 articles". Type in "toxic mold" and press GO.

This will take you to a page where you can surmise that Farmer's decision to settle this recent mold case probably had more to do with the insurer losing a multimillion dollar law suit to a claimant that they had abused very badly. More information on that page about he public hearings held all over Texas on the subject of mold.

Earlier Allstate lost a similar case in California where they had a better chance of outlasting a 94 year old claimant. Stubborn old cuss; not only that he was right.

Don't be too quick to fall for the insurance company hype and you might also want to look for stories of public buildings in Texas having to be evacuated because of mold problems. Here is one from my files, google is likely to find more.

http://www.eliminatemold.com/mold_articles.html
State Closes Sick Building in Fort Worth
Reporter: WFAA-TV News Staff
Updated: Jun 28, 2001 at 06:37PM
FORT WORTH, Jun 28
The state of Texas has shut down one of its Department of Human Services offices in Fort Worth, because of environmental concerns.

The DHS moved out of the location in the 6700 block of Locke Avenue after testing revealed a problem with air quality.

An employee had complained of breathing problems prior to that.