Wave Maker: More Nonsense from the Golden Dome

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Thursday, April 21, 2005

More Nonsense from the Golden Dome

As the inimitable Gilda Radner character Emily Litella used to say at the end of her soliloquy, "if it's not one thing, it's another."

Again, some members of the Massachusetts legislature insist on distinguishing themselves at the top of the Clueless List by seeking to impose even more costs on the already gasping Massachusetts auto insurance industry. My buddy Bruce at mASSBACKWARDS has already provided us with his characteristically eloquent rant, but I cannot resist piling on.

So, as we know, the proposed legislation would seek to fund the Commonwealth's cost of police training by imposing a surcharge on automobile insurerers. They say it is only $15 million, but the legislation sets the surcharge at ".25% of all premiums collected," so I see a slush fund building. This surcharge, most certainly, will be passed along to consumers in their policy premiums.

The reason for looking to the auto insurers? Because, between the Romney administration and the House and Senate, they can't find the money in the state budget to train police officers.

Huh?

According to some of the "several dozen lawmakers" who sponsored the bill, "some officers are forced to personally pay the $2,300 for their mandatory basic training course." I don't believe that for one second. I want to see proof of that. And by the way, when I read about how many police officers are making over $100,000 a year with their "detail pay," I might be inclined to look at the $2,300 as table ante. But I still don't believe it.

But rather than harp on the details, let's pull out some of the nuggets from this story and have a laugh, shall we?

There are 19 insurance companies writing policies in Massachusetts. There are 60 to 100 in the surrounding states. Think about it.
The previous year's budget funding was $2.4 million to $5.0 million. So they need $15 million for what?
"At current funding levels, the state has been unable to provide specialized training in traffic enforcement." Do they mean, like, any traffic enforcement? What does that mean?
Here's a good one: "Several types of non-municipal law enforcement officers who once were qualified for training, such as harbormasters and sheriff's deputies, are no longer offered classroom space." Harbormasters? Now I know why the Hingham Selectmen refused to give their harbormaster a gun.
Senator Jarrett Barrios, prominent cosponsor, said the program would create "minimal pain" for drivers, costing "less than a penny a day." Sounds too much like the tv ads selling supplemental life insurance to elderly. Any time someone breaks down the cost to me in days, I run the other way.

I wish Jarrett Barrios and the rest of his pals would pay more attention to helping restore competition to the pricing of auto insurance, rather than figuring ways to make it more expensive. But I...just...don't...think....they're....up...to...it.

Posted by: Wave Maker / 1:33 PM/ |