we saw that...

House Bill 1312 by Rep. Erich Ponti, R-Baton Rouge, would raise the existing limits of $10,000 for property damage to vehicles and the death or injury of one person in an accident to $25,000; the $20,000 limit for multiple deaths or injuries of more than one person in an accident would increase to $50,000. Ponti, conceding the new limits could increase premiums by $200 to $400 a year, said the law has not been changed since 1984 when the existing limits were set. He said a new car cost $10,600 in the mid-1980s and today the average auto costs almost $21,600.

"This will increase the cost of insurance for a select part of the driving public," Ponti said.

"I have to go home and tell my constituents I voted for an insurance rate increase" if the bill passes, said Rep. Tom McVea, R-St. Francisville, a member of the panel who voted against it.

J.E. Brignac, who represents the Louisiana Association of Fire and Casualty Companies, said the minimal coverage increase will hit about 1.5 million Louisiana drivers. Some minimally-inured drivers, he said, are now paying $2,000 a year for coverage and will be paying about $2,800 if the bill passes.

"It is not the right time to do this," Brignac said. "We have a disproportionate amount of people now who struggle and live from paycheck to paycheck."

But Rep. Chris Roy Jr., D-Alexandria, said that in an accident with an injury, some emergency room tests costs $6,000 to $8,000 alone now.

Joining Roy in voting for the bill were Reps. Page Cortez, R-Lafayette; Albert "AB" Franklin, D-Lake Charles; Juan LaFonta, D-New Orleans; Kevin Pearson, R-Slidell; and Kirk Talbot, R-River Ridge. Besides McVea, the only other vote against the bill came from Rep. Andy Anders, D-Ferriday. Rep. Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles, the panel's chairman, did not vote. ~ read more