For State Rep. Mike Simpson, D-Jackson, the fight to push through legislation to punish insurers for wrongfully denying claims is personal. He watched his daughter die of cancer and then went bankrupt after his insurer refused to pay the claims.
For insurers, it appears decidedly impersonal, as they have flooded much of Michigan with thousands of “robocalls” against the legislation.
On Tuesday, Simpson, a legislation sponsor, and Rep. Barb Byrum, a Democrat from Onondaga and chair of the House Insurance Committee, jointly announced they have no intent to back down from pushing through the new laws, Gongwer News reported.
"I strive to get good legislation through my committee and passed by the Senate," said Byrum, who denied charges that she told the insurers she would refer the bills out of committee on the first day.
Meanwhile, the Michigan Insurance Coalition and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce are continuing to blast the proposal, calling it a “partisan ploy” by Democrats that would increase the number of frivolous lawsuits against insurers, if it is passed.
