BILL REQ. #:  H-4223.1 

Read first time 01/12/10.   Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

     TO THE HONORABLE BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, The United States Congress passed the McCarran-Ferguson Act (15 U.S.C. Sec. 1011 et seq.) in 1945 and exempted insurers from the antitrust provisions that apply to most American businesses; and
     WHEREAS, Those insurance antitrust provisions of the McCarran-Ferguson Act have served to restrict fair and open competition in the insurance market leading to higher prices, fewer choices, and more uninsured. These negative impacts have been particularly felt in the health care insurance market; and
     WHEREAS, A commitment to free and fair competition is a fundamental value prized by most businesses and most Americans. This value could and should once again apply to the insurance industry if fair and open competition were required of insurers; and
     WHEREAS, A competitive insurance market will bring lower premiums, better coverage, and greater access to insurance. This competition will be the key component to providing good, affordable health insurance to all Americans; and
     WHEREAS, A diverse and considerable number of Congressional leaders have consistently sought for decades to bring insurers under the same antitrust rules as most American businesses by eliminating the federal antitrust exemptions;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray for the repeal of the antitrust provisions in the McCarran-Ferguson Act.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.