LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

[December 14th, 2005] POWER TO THE PEOPLE

I am pleased that WW is not allowing the issue of PGE to leave the public's consciousness ["Pants on Fire," Nov. 30, 2005]. I would like to point out that this would be a non-issue if the Legislature had done what the people demanded, by law, in 1932. I urge all citizens to read our Constitution's Article XI-D, titled "State Power Development," which declares all hydroelectric sources of power and all distribution lines to be held in perpetuity by the state. Any sale or "gift" after this law was ratified is illegal. This is a law, it is not optional, yet it has never been enforced or legally countermanded.

What we are witnessing is a flagrant disregard of democracy and our parents', and grandparents', wisdom. In light of contemporary developments, the public should demand the recall of any legislator who does not immediately move to uphold the Constitution in this matter. It is an old and tired partisan tactic to initiate illegal policies and then tell the public that it is too late to turn back (see World War II and the current war in Iraq). If heads need to roll, then so be it!

Glenn McCarthy
Southeast 136th Avenue

THE STATE HAS ITS EYE ON YOUR BODY

We appreciated your story "Leif's Auto Body Experience" [Nov. 2, 2005], and we want to clarify how the Department of Consumer & Business Services handles insurance complaints in this area. DCBS works hard to protect consumers and hold insurers to high standards. We accept and help resolve thousands of consumer complaints each year. When auto-body shops contact us, we take the information they provide but also generally ask that their customer file a complaint. That's because the customer is the one who has a contract—an insurance policy—with the insurer. If the insurer hasn't lived up to that contract, we hold them to it. The auto-body shop is not a party to the contract, and its interests may be different from the policyholder's.

That said, while consumer complaints often help us identify recurring problems, they are not our only source of information. We have looked at cases brought to us by auto-body shops and found that most either lacked specific facts we could use to pursue an investigation—in which case we've asked for more detail—or there was no violation of either the insurer's own policy or the state's insurance laws.

As a consumer-protection agency, we emphasize that people need to read and understand contracts before they sign—whether the contract is for

insurance coverage or auto-body repair. Your article reinforced that point well, and highlighted questions consumers should ask the insurer and the body shop before authorizing work on their car.

Note: Consumers with complaints against insurance companies or insurance agents can contact the DCBS Insurance Division at (503) 947-7984 or (toll-free message line) 888-877-4894.

Steve Corson
Oregon Department of Consumer & Business Services
Salem