By Laura Weber, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-876159.mp3
LANSING, MI –
Lawmakers in the state House approved a package of bills Wednesday that Democrats say would hold auto insurers more accountable for unfair business practices.
AUDIO:
Democrats in the House spent the week discussing consumer-protection measures. Democratic state Representative Barb Byrum chairs the committee that handled the auto insurance bills.
"I think the public wants consumer protections, I think this is a consumer protection and I think regardless of party affiliation we should support consumer protection, accountability and transparency," she says.
The legislation being debated on the House floor will most likely be ignored in the Republican-led Senate. But as the 2009 Legislative session is scheduled to wrap up at the end of the week, lawmakers are turning their sights on 2010, which is an election year. And Democrats often use consumer-protection issues to their advantage on the campaign trail.