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I urge each of you to write your U.S. Senator or U.S. Representative to Congress with a letter similar to the one which follows: Download the Microsoft Word version of this letter Download a text only version of this letter Dear Senator or Representative: I write to bring your attention to an issue that is of grave concern to me. Several Members of Congress have just introduced S.625, the so-called “Auto-Choice Reform Act,” a bill that would federalize the automobile insurance industry. This legislation would usurp state regulatory authority and preempt existing state law. I hope that you will join me in opposing this bill. At this time when both the President and Congressional Leaders are fighting to shrink the size of government and ease regulatory burdens, I am puzzled that a federal auto no-fault bill may be gaining momentum on Capital Hill. Historically, state legislatures have been well-equipped to address the automobile insurance needs of their citizens. Moreover, auto-insurance rates depend heavily on state demographics, I believe it is ill-advised for Congress to impose a “one size fits all” solution to an issue that varies so drastically from state to state. The legislation that was just introduced would be unfair to both consumers and states. The bill S.625 does not differentiate between drivers who have been responsible and those who have been careless. This alleged “choice” bill amounts to no choice at all since coverage would depend on the choice made by the other driver. States currently are able to maximize consumer savings by tailoring their auto-insurance systems to meet their unique urban and rural needs. It is unnecessary for the federal government to instruct states on how to restructure their insurance systems. Compliance to such a charge could in fact place an unintended unfunded federal mandate requirement on the states. Rather than seeking to increase an already bloated and unresponsive federal bureaucracy into new areas specifically reserved for the much better equipped states, federal lawmakers should focus on issues of concern to all American taxpayers, such as balancing the federal budget, and saving Social Security and Medicare from insolvency. I hope you share my concerns and encourage you to join me in sending a message to other lawmakers on Capital Hill that the federal government should not interfere in this issue. Please let me know your thoughts on this matter, I look forward to hearing from you.

U.S. SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA MAY BE REACHED AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESSES AND PHONE NUMBERS:

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