One of the reasons I have so much scorn for democrats is that they embrace the big government statism power that I despise. Republicans at least SAY* they’re against it but then eventually break my heart by giving in to the temptation that is “power.”
To be sure, the devastation that is “Sandy” is, in some areas, complete. Any human with a drip of a spirit and decency would weep at the scene. But the reason we elect people is that we expect leadership.
And courage.
And with one stroke of a pen, Christie failed BIG time:
Trenton, NJ – Taking action to save homeowners money following Hurricane Sandy, Governor Chris Christie signed Executive Order 107, prohibiting insurance companies from imposing costly hurricane deductibles on New Jersey homeowners. An important part of the recovery of New Jersey will be the influx of funds that occurs when insurers settle claims by New Jersey homeowners. This action will increase the total size of the payments made by the insurance industry, helping residents rebuild their homes and speed New Jersey’s path to recovery.
“We need to ensure that homeowners are not forced to pay higher out of pocket costs than required as they begin the rebuilding and repair process,” said Governor Christie. “While Hurricane Sandy was a devastating storm, it did not meet the regulatory threshold to trigger the application of hurricane deductibles by insurance companies in New Jersey. This executive order makes it clear that consumers do not have to pay these unusually large and often unexpected amounts.”
Now, did the storm meet the threshold to trigger deductible? Maybe, maybe not. But THAT isn’t up to the governor of a state. That’s to be determined by the normal and regular and well understood relationship between the private entities that entered into a legally binding contract.
Governor Christie would be wise to remember that if he legislates away the right to collect deductibles, if indeed they are entitles, he may very well find out that the polices issued to his residents are dramatically more expensive if offered at all.
* Except, of course, things like gay marriage and extreme abortion views. THOSE state powers they are just fine with.
