Saturday, July 16, 1977 THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Five Saturday, July 16, 1977 THE MICHIGAN DAILY No-fault insurance may go nationwide WASHINGTON (') - A Car- ter administration endorse- ment yesterday strengthened the possibility that Congress will approve nationwide no- fault automobile insurance af- ter a decade of considering it. "It is time now to enact no- fault," Transportation Secre- tary Brock Adams told the Sen- ate Commerce Committee. It was the first endorsement by an administration since the initial congressional hearings were held on no-fault in 167. SEN. WARREN Magnuson, (D-Wash.), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee and author of the bill, said the administration backing would help push the measure through Congress after years of nar- row defeats. Adams said consumers under the present auto liability insur- sore system get back only 44 cents in benefits for each dollar in premiums. This figure surprised Magnu- son, who has been holding hearings on no-fault for a dec- ade. "IN THE PAST, I have been saying that if you pay a dollar for insurance you can fight for 50 cents of that. Now I can change that to 44 cents. "There is something very wrong in such a system," Mag- nuson said: Adams told the panel that the 44 cents per dol- lar recovery rate was based on 46,000 fatalities and almost five million injuries in automo- bile accidents during 1975. "We must correct the inequi- ties and inefficiencies that have been so prevalent," Adams said. UNDER NO-FAULT, already adopted in some form by 16 states, persons are compen- sated for injuries in car acci- dents by their own insurance companies regardless of who is to blame for the accidents. Un- der the traditional liability sys- tem, insurance companies must determine through lawsuits which driver was at fault and therefore which insurance com- pany must compensate vic- tims. The secretary said the 44 per cent figure compares to 70 to 90 per cent for such other in- surance as private health in- surance, workmen's compensa- tion and Social Security. "As a matter of national con- science, we must turn next to aid the automobile accident vic- tims. We must see that they get prompt and fair compensa- tion for losses resulting from injury or death without the need to decide who is to blame for the tragedy,"- Adams said. MAGNUSON'S bill would re- quire each state that has not already done to so replace a liability insurance system that relies on proving fault with a no-fault system. It also would establish federal minimum standards for state no - fault systems. Under the Magnuson bill, no- fault policies would have to re- imburse the purchaser for the first $100,000 of his or her own medical and - rehabilitation costs, up to $12,000 in lost wages, and forthe cost of ob- taining a housekeeper or other home aid care. Car insurance that does not deal with personal injuries, such as collision coverage, would not be affected. THlE COMMITTEE alto has been receiving en- dorsements of his no-fault bill from an increasing part of the insuranuce industry. "We fully support the prin- ciple of federal minimum no- fault standards" said James Noyes of the National Associa- tion of Casualty & Surety Ag- ents. The group formerly op- posed federal legislation, say- ing that states should work out their own systems. Also testifying for the bill was Douglas Fraser, presi- dent of the United Auto Work- ers, a long-time proponent of nationwide no-fault, REDUCED RATES for Bowling 50c per game Saturday 11 avn-6 pm at the UNION A varied and interesting assortment of sports trivia Lou Brock of the Cardinals The first twlo times Gene Te- The first pitcher ever to hit stole seven bases in the 1967 nace, then with Oakland, came a grand slam homer in World World Series and then stole to bat in World Series action he Series history was Dave Mc- seven more in the 198 series. hit home rues. It was in 1972. Nally of Baltimore in 1970. Only one player in pro foot- Defensive end Gino March- "Breed the best to the best ball history made 2,000 points etti, who had uniform number and hope for the best" is the - George Blanda, who retired 89, has the highest number in slogan of thoroughbred horse with 2,002. the Pro Football Hall of Fame. breeders. HOUSING DIVISION '- FOR 1977-78 ACADEMIC YEAR POSSIBLE POSITION OPENING FOR A GRADUATE STUDENT TEACHING ASSISTANT IN THE PILOT PROGRAM ALICE LLOYD HALL The Pilot Proqrom, an innovative lip ino-learning center for freshoersons and sophomores, sponsored iointly by LS&A and Housina may have a Graduate Student Teaching Assistant position open. Graduate Student Teachina .Assistants teach courses of their own design and hove corridor counseling duties. The courses should be within the liberal arts traditions and have contemporary social, political, cultural or ethical implications. Graduate Student Teach- inn Assistants must be skilled writers and be prepared, whatever their maior, to assist students with writing problems. Remuneration consists of a .25 Graduate Student Teaching Assistant tapproximately $2200 per year), plus a sinole room and board. Staff application forms are available starting July 12, 1977 in Chorlene Coody's office, 1500 SAB. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 4:00 P.M., JULY 19, 1977 A NON-DISCRIMINATORY AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER Wanted! people who can: If you can spend some time, even a few hours, with someone who needs a hand, not a handout, call your local Voluntary Action Center or write to: "Volunteer:" Washington, D.C. 20013 Weneedyou. S aeuss, The National Center for Voluntary Action.,