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December 4, 2007 News for property casualty insurers   Top Story    Congress should rewrite disaster-aid law, mayors say The mayors of four cities that took in hurricane victims in 2005 are urging lawmakers to rewrite the federal disaster-aid law. The current laws do not require FEMA to reimburse communities for the long-term impacts of taking on additional residents. The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.) (12/4) West with Oden: a perfect match. Since Oden has joined the Thomson West family of companies, businesses like yours are building bullet-proof compliance programs using one complete source of compliance information and web-based solutions. See how right now.   Industry Trends    Insurers oppose New Jersey bill that aims to boost doctors' pay New Jersey legislation that would boost payments to doctors for care after an auto crash is "a step in the wrong direction," Property Casualty Insurers Association Regional Manager Richard Stokes said. He noted that the current fees allowed for doctors are "overly generous." The bill passed the Senate Commerce Committee on Monday. Courier-Post (Camden-Cherry Hill, N.J.) (12/4) Editorials discuss changes, progress in New Orleans Editorial boards at major newspapers throughout the U.S. are writing about New Orleans and its recovery from Hurricane Katrina. Recent editorials discuss the city's rebounding population as well as political changes and how the clay shortage will affect levee construction. New Orleans CityBusiness (12/3) Insurers urge group to create formal process for testifying Insurers are asking the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to become more transparent in the way it develops testimony for congressional hearings. A representative of the Property Casualty Insurers Association noted that the group testifies up to 50 times a year and encouraged the NAIC to create a formal process. PropertyCasualty360.com (12/3) Other News Buffett to testify in fraud trial of insurance executives NYTimes.com (12/4) Gartner & QlikView present: "Next Generation Business Intelligence." Watch this Business Intelligence Webinar - today & learn how analysis has become simpler, faster, and more broadly deployed. This Webinar features Gartner and QlikView specialists highlighting next-generation BI trends.   Personal Lines  Opinion: Property owners reduce risk by strengthening homes Risk Management Solutions provides models that allow insurers to estimate their losses and set rates, writes RMS Global Science Networks Director Bob Ward in the Orlando Sentinel. He notes that rates should reflect the amount of risk to which policy holders are exposed but that property owners can lower their risk by strengthening their homes. Orlando Sentinel (Fla.) (12/4) Law could cut flood insurance rates by 50% St. Albans City Council in West Virginia on Monday passed the first reading of an ordinance creating minimum construction standards for structures in flood-plain areas. The new law could reduce flood insurance rates by 50% in the affected areas if it is passed on the second reading later this month. The Gazette (Charleston, W.Va.) (free registration) (12/4) Other News FAIR plan may raise wind deductibles on Cape homeowners Cape Cod Times (Mass.) (tiered subscription model) (12/4)   Commercial Lines  Court ruling raises questions about workers' comp age discrimination A ruling by the 3rd District Court of Appeal raises questions about whether age discrimination exists in California's workers' compensation reforms. The court threw out a decision by the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board that lowered a 76-year-old woman's workers' compensation benefit by 40%. The board claimed that the woman's loss of bone density made her more susceptible to injury. The Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.)/Associated Press (12/3)   Policy and Law  Spending caps on accident victims control costs, insurers say Insurers oppose New Jersey legislation that would stop the state from putting caps on how much insurers pay for services and procedures for automobile accident victims. Insurance companies say the limits help them control their costs. Newsday (Long Island, N.Y.) (subscription required) (12/3) White House tries to give Bush makeover for final year Aides will try to give President George W. Bush an image makeover at home and abroad. The administration is working on policies to defuse fights with Congress and give a boost to GOP candidates in next year's election. "Our hope is that if we are proactive in pushing for good policy initiatives that are based on past successes, people will be reminded of earlier successes and any 'legacy' implications will be a byproduct," one White House official said. Politico (Washington, D.C.) (12/3)   SmartQuote  When you're angry, never put it in writing. It's like carving your anger in stone. That makes implacable enemies." --Estee Lauder, founder of Estee Lauder Inc.     Subscriber Tools       Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy Advertise Sales Account Director:  Abiy Bekele (212) 450-7919 Download Media Kit   Read more at SmartBrief.com A powerful website for SmartBrief readers including: Industry Home Readers' Choice Search Archive Grab our News Widget Get this RSS Feed Publish your Press Release Download the SmartBrief Android app       Recent PCI SmartBrief Issues: Monday, December 03, 2007 Friday, November 30, 2007 Thursday, November 29, 2007 Wednesday, November 28, 2007 Tuesday, November 27, 2007     Lead Editor:  Angela Giroux-Scheide Contributing Editor:  Karen Kantor     Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005     © 1999-2011 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information