Watt bill would prohibit insurance
?
companies from using credit report info
SPECIAL TO THE CHRON1C1 J
Responding to an increasing
trend of insurance companies using
consumer credit scores in assessing
nsfc and rates, U.S. Rep. Luis V.
Gutierrez (D-IL) and U.S. Rep.
Melvin L. Watt (D-NC) have intro
duced legislation that would pro
tect consumers, especialljyninority
citizens, who tend to have lower
credit, yet who do not present an
increased insurance risk because
they are safe drivers.
The Non-Discriminatory Use
of Consumer Reports and
Consumer Information Act of 2008
(H.R. 5633) is co-sponsored by
House Financial Services
Committee Chairman Barney
Frank (D-MA).
"The introduction of the bill
today is a step toward leveling the
playing field for purchasers of per
sonal lines of insurance such as
automobile and homeowner's*
insurance," said Watt. "The insur
ance industry has been increasingly
using credit information to under
write and rate personal lines of
File Photo
U.S. Rep. Mel Watt represents
the state's 12th District.
insurance . Government studies
have shown that credit scores cor
relate with race or ethnicity, so
minorities often end up paying
more for personal lines of insur
ance even when they are safe driv
ers or have never filed claims."
According to the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC), all major auto
mobile insurance companies use
credit information in some capaci
ty. While creditors use credit infor
mation to determine the likelihood
that a consumer will default on an
account, insurance companies gen
erally use credit information to pre
diB the number of claims a con
sumer will file and the tptal cost of
those claims.
A July 2007 FTC report found
that while credit-based insurance
scores can be an effective predictor
of risk, racial and ethnic minorities
tend to have lower credit-based
insurance scores and thus pay more
for automobile insurance, with
African-Americans expecting to
pay about 10 percent more and
Latinos 4.2 percent more in premi
ums if credit-based insurance
scores are used.
The FTC report also found that
credit-based insurance scores are a
"proxy," or substitute, for race or
ethnicity in three out of four lines
of automobile insurance: collision,
comprehensive and bodily injury.
"Insurance companies are
increasingly and alarmingly using
credit information contained in
credit reports to determine whether
and at what price to offer personal
lines of property and casualty
insurance," said Gutierrez. "This
includes automobile and home
owners insurance. For families
who are only beginning to establish
credit ? including minority and
immigrant communities - this
practice puts them in a difficult and
unfair financial position."
This bill wouldprohibit the use
of credit information contained in
consumer reports for insurance
purposes when there is a govern
ment finding of discrimination
from the use of this information, or
when credit information represents
a proxy or proxy effect for race or
ethnicity. 0
Statements sought
from local Liberians
IMAl TO THE CHRONICLE .
The Liherian Organization of the Piedmont (LOP)
and other Liber orth Carolina, in
Commission (TRC) and The Advocates for Human
Rights, is coordinating a project to collect statements
from thousands of Liberians throughout the United
States on March 29 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and March
30, 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. at the Dillard Auditorium,
Anderson Center, and Winston-Salem State
University.
Working with the Liberian community partners
across the country, the local statement will mirror the
TRC process underway in Liberia to examine what
exactly happened during the nation's blood, decade
long civil war.
This groundbreaking project will give Liberians in
the U. S. an opportunity to promote .international jus
tice and human rights as part of the truth, justice,
accountability and reconciliation processes in Liberia
Statements may also be given over the phone at 1
800-799-3688 or to download or use an on-line form,
visit www.trcofliberia.org.
The Anderson Center is at 601 Martin Luther
King, Jr. Dr. For more information contact James Y.
Hunder, Sr.. president of the Liherian Organization of
the Piedmont at 655-4759 or 721-1991 .
collaboration
Reconciliation
Kilpatrick
from page A2
from state Attorney
General Mike Cox, who
called it "race-baiting on par
with David Duke and George
Wallace" on Wednesday and
said the may9r should step
down for the good of the city
and region.
"What he said cannot be
unsaid, and he is
not fit to be mayor
anymore," Cox,
who is white, said
in an interview on
yWJR-AM. "He's a
very talented guy,
but he has over
stayed his day. He
should resign, he
should quit,
whether he's
charged or not."
ences to it without using it."
But others said the context
in which the mayor used the
word should be considered.
"He was trying to make a
point. He wasn't using it in
the typical vernacular," said
Richard J. Mclntire, the
national spokesman for the
National Association for the
Advancement of Colored
People.
The N-word has been used
as a slur against
blacks for more than
a century. It remains
a symbol of racism,
but also is used by
blacks when refer
ring to other blacks,
especially in comedy
routines and rap and
hip-hop music. The
Revs. Jesse Jackson
and A1 Sharpton, as
well as other nation
Worthy
K i 1 p a t r i c k
spokesman James Canning
said Cox "has the right to his
opinion" but said the mayor
will remain iir>?ffice. He said
Kilpatrick used the slur in his
speech as an exajup^.p^JiQ.w
hurtful the epithet can bd.'
"He was explaining to the
citizens of Detroit the situa
tion he and his family have
been put in by some very vile
individuals who have decided
they will thrust upon he and
his family some very threaten
ing forms of communica
tions," Canning said.
Some black leaders criti
cized Kilpatrick, saying he
chose the wrong forum and
wrong language for his out
burst.
"It most especially was not
a place to use the same word
that, supposedly, we buried
last summer," said the Rev.
Edgar Vann, pastor of Second
Ebenezer Baptist Church in
Detroit. ** You can make refer
al black leaders, have called
for an end to the use ofothe
word.
Kilpatrick has been under
fire since excerpts of sexually
explicit-^ text messages
? 'bet^eejCKilpatrick and His
chief of staff at the time were
reported in January by the
Detroit Free Press.
In a trial over a lawsuit
against the city brought by
two police officers who said
they were wrongly fired.
Kilpa>rick and Christine
Beatty denied under oath that
they had been romantically
involved.
The City Council settled ?
the lawsuit for $8.4 million,
but councilors didn't know
about a secret deal to keep
mention of the text messages
out of the settlement.
Wayne County Prosecutor
Kym Worthy is deciding
whether to charge Kilpatrick
and Beatty with perjury.
1
NOTICE OF A CITIZENS INFORMATIONAL WORK
SHOP FOR THE PROPOSED REPLACEMENT OF
BRIDGE NO. 322 OVER 20TH STREET ON SR 1725
(UNIVERSITY PARKWAY) IN WINSTON-SALEM
TIP Project No. B-4745 Forsyth County
The North Carolina Department of Transportation
(NCDOT) will hold the above Citizens Informational
Workshop on Tuesday, April 8, 2008, between the hours
of 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM at the Martin Luther King, Jr.
Community Center, 2001 Pittsburg Avenue, Winston
Salem, 27105.
Interested individuals may attend this informal workshop
at their convenience during the above stated hours.
Department of Transportation representatives will be
present to answer questions and receive comments from
the public about this project. The workshop is being held
to present the purpose and need for the project, as well
as alternatives being considered.
This project proposes to replace Bridge No. 322 with
another bridge on a new alignment. The new bridge will
be built in construction stages alongside the existing
bridge.
Anyone desiring additional information may contact Ms.
Natalie Lockhart, Project Development and
Environmental Analysis, Bridge Unit, 1551 Mail Service
Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1551, phone (919) 715-5508,
fax (919) 715-1501 or email: nnlockhart@dot.state.nc.us.
NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the
Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who
wish to participate in this workshop. Anyone requiring
special services should contact Ms. Lockhart as early as
possible so that arrangements can be made.
The Chronicle March 13, 20, 27, and April 3, 2008
Week of 03/19/08 thru 03/25/08
Regula.r or Brown Sugar
Smithf ield* Spiral
Sliced Hams
? H
MvP
lb.
Without MVP Card $2.99
/I
Frozen -,j , I ') l\
Turkey ^ V ? >
Breasts J lb.
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1.5 Ounce J
A.1. Original
Steak Sauce
$3"
WWtoutMVr \
00* cartllfl
mjk A 'P*
1 Lb. Tub
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5 Lb. Bag
Russet
Potatoes
BUY ONE, GET ONE
FREE
Without MVP Card S3. 99 Each
Easter
Lilies
Without MVP Card S3.49
BUY ONE, GET ONE
FREE
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FREE
Limit 2 Free
12.25-14 Ounce
Select Varieties
General Mills
Honey Nut I
Cheerios
11.25-12.25 Ounce
Select Varieties
Cookie Crisp
16 Ounce
26/30 Count Limit 2
Food Lion Fre*
Cooked Shrimp
2 5 Lbs.,
Individually
Quick Frozen
Skinless
Food Lion
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Chicken
Breasts
Limit 2 Free
Fresh Deli Virginia or
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Or Where Available J
Regular or Cajun ?
Roast Beef a# lb
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3
5*99
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buy one, get one
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Or 11-12 Ounce- Select Varieties
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49
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n
A
7.25 Ounce
Food Lion
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& Cheese
Dinner
J[!/> rwrv* tt? right to limit quaotrtus and corrtd typographical #nd photographic errors Ratnchtdg unavailatote on akohol and tobacco pro&xts ah Stor^ Ac r ppt
Good neighbors. Great "prices.,