After Governor Jeff Landry vetoed the Collateral Source reform bill, Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple calls on the governor and legislative leaders to hold a special session to address the state’s high auto insurance premiums. Temple says legislation is needed to improve the legal climate.
“If we want to do something that is going to impact our citizens sooner rather than later we need to have a special session and address it do it now.”
Landry vetoed House Bill 423 which supporters say would limit the amount juries can award to car crash victims, but the governor said the reform proposal would result in accident victims not getting what they deserved.
Temple says Governor Landry’s leadership was vital to the property insurance reform achieved in the regular session and he looks forward to working him on legal reform as well.
“I’ve not spoken with the governor on why he vetoed 423, but i look forward talking to him to better understand his concerns with that bill so I can work with him and the legislator’s to bring a solution.”
Temple says the Collateral Source rule needs to be reformed because current law is allowing for amounts that go way above medical costs from a wreck.
“And let me tell you when insurance companies pay more in claims we pay more in premiums.”
