Thankfully, the serious issues challenging Michigan have apparently been solved, because two legislators have found time to introduce the following two-bill package to regulate “portable electronic device” extended warranty plans:
Introduced by Sen. Dave Hildenbrand, R-Lowell Township, on June 21, 2011, to establish and impose a new state regulatory regime on “insurance” sold to cover portable electronic devices, which among other things would cover extended warranty and service plan offers.
Introduced by Sen. Jim Marleau, R-Lake Orion, on June 21, 2011, to incorporate the regulatory regime proposed by Senate Bill 511 for portable electronic device “insurance” into the state Insurance Code under provisions related to “limited line insurance.”
Incidentally, prudent shoppers who understand that manufacturers and retailers wouldn't be so eager to sell these plans unless they made lots of money have already devised a much simpler solution: Just say no.
If the Mackinac Center should ever inaugurate a “working on the wrong problem" award, it's likely that these bills will be among the contenders.
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