Fiscal Conservative:
“While I was chief fiscal officer, I had to cut out over $200 million in government waste, and we did so. I sat on two insurance boards, and while I was CFO we made some tough decisions on insurance.”
Advocate:
He pledged to build a “strong, vibrant marketplace” for insurance in Mississippi, increase competition and lower rates.
“In the rural areas of our state, we will increase fire protection and lower rates by implementing a new rule initiative to speed up the response time that it takes to fight fires. My plan for Mississippi means lower insurance rates for all citizens.”
We need an Insurance Commissioner who is independent of Insurance companies to make decisions in the best interest of Mississippi. As Anderson says, "you can't protect people's pocketbooks if you're in the back pocket of Big Insurance."
Is it worse to be in the pocket of Big Insurance or in the pocket of Big Legal? Say what you will of Mike Chaney, but Anderson will be more of a puppet to the trial lawyers who have funded him thus far. Anderson has received more than $250K in campaign funding from wealthy trial lawyers, who have as much or more of a vested interest in the happenings of the Dept. of Insurance.
ReplyDeleteIt comes down to one simple thing. Do you think Mississippi policy-holders are getting a fair shake under the current pro insurance company policies or do you think policy-holders need a more active voice?
ReplyDeleteIf in four years Anderson somehow overreaches then we will have the option to replace him, but as of today, It is clear policyholders are not being represented today.
John
ReplyDeleteHow are you so sure that Chaney will follow the same course as Dale? Chaney and Dale are in different political parties. I think Chaney, like Anderson both have ideas on how to work to make things better.
As someone in the financial services industry, I can tell you this. No major financial services company needs to do business in Mississippi. Mississippi is less than 1% of the national market, and a higher risk state than average (although due to tort reform that is changing). If you push insurance companies too hard they will simply pack up and move on.org, pardon the political humor.
"Mississippi is less than 1% of the national market, and a higher risk state than average (although due to tort reform that is changing). If you push insurance companies too hard they will simply pack up and move on.org, pardon the political humor."
ReplyDeleteBig companies left much of the Louisiana market and homegrown companies popped up to take the business and fill in the void. No big loss if we lose such bad corporate citizens.
More companies, more competition = lower rates, better products.
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