National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies

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McCarran-Ferguson War Room Advocacy Kit

NAMIC has put together an Advocacy Kit to assist our members in helping in the fight to save McCarran Ferguson. We urge you to contact your elected officials using the information provided.

The McCarran-Ferguson Act

The McCarran-Ferguson Act Position Paper

McCarran-Ferguson and Insurance Regulation - Fact or Myth

The McCarran-Ferguson Sample Letter

Action Alert:

As you are well aware, legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Congress to repeal or alter the existing limited antitrust exemptions afforded under the McCarran-Ferguson Act. Proposals co-sponsored by Senator Trent Lott (R), S. 618, and Representative Gene Taylor (D), H.R. 1081, both of Mississippi, would threaten data sharing activities that have increased competition and provided significant benefits to America's consumers.

Your association staff is working extremely hard to slow the momentum on this dangerous legislation as many of you have seen in the recent Washington Post and CNBC news items about NAMIC’s McCarran war room in D.C. – but we need your help!

Earlier this week the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing titled “The McCarran-Ferguson Act and Antitrust Immunity: Good for Consumers?” Senator Lott, Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Robert Hunter of the Consumer Federation of America and a Louisiana insurance consumer testified and expressed disapproval in how the insurance industry responded to the 2005 hurricanes and urged McCarran repeal as a remedy. In addition to Lott and Landrieu, Senate co-sponsors of the bill include Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) and the leadership of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chairman Leahy (D-VT) and ranking member Specter (R-PA). This motivated bipartisan co-sponsorship makes even a radical idea like repeal of McCarran politically achievable.

Since Senator Lott called me last July to say he would “bring down the industry,” NAMIC has been developing a strategic plan that incorporates lobbying, member grassroots contact, issue analysis, coalition building and media relations. This advocacy has already been visible and effective in a variety of ways, but it is now time for you, the NAMIC member, to engage in the fight.

NAMIC strongly encourages you to join efforts to defeat these threats to McCarran-Ferguson. We would greatly appreciate your assistance with the following efforts:

  • Send a letter (sample letter linked above) to the Member of Congress representing the district in which your company is located outlining the reasons for your opposition to the repeal;
  • Schedule a visit with your Member of Congress, especially if you have a personal relationship with that member. (Congress will be in recess from April 2 to 14, which could allow for in-district meetings if going to Washington is not practical for you.)
  • Meet with or send letters to your state legislators requesting them to urge your state's Congressional representatives to oppose the repeal;
  • Meet with or send letters to your insurance commissioner/director expressing your concerns about the repeal;
  • If practical, meet with or send a letter to your governor and;
  • Participate in NAMIC's Congressional Contact Program.

NAMIC materials including a sample letter, position paper and fact/myth document are attached to facilitate your outreach activities. Also, NAMIC staff stands ready to assist with these efforts.

We would also greatly appreciate being informed of any contacts you are able to make.

Thank you, in advance, for your assistance with this critical effort. Should you have questions or need further information, feel free to contact Marliss Browder, Senior Director-Federal Affairs, Joe Thesing, Director-State Affairs, or the State Affairs Manager for your region.

Posted: Friday, March 09, 2007 12:00:00 AM. Modified: Monday, March 12, 2007 9:21:44 AM.

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