Declarations

The Worst Storm

“This is without question the worst ice storm in state history, and it will require a historic response from all levels of government.”

—Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry, following severe ice storms that hit his state in December 2007. Henry has estimated that losses may reach as high as $200 million. At one point more than 600,000 homes and businesses were without power and as of press time service had not been restored to many thousands of customers. President Bush approved Oklahoma’s request for an emergency declaration for all of its 77 counties.

It Could Happen to You

“If we go talk to Congress together about the need for a federal backstop for catastrophic coverage, it’s not just one governor of one state. It’s on regional lines, saying, ‘It happened to us, it could easily happen to your state as well.'”

—Louisiana Gov.-elect Bobby Jindal, who met with Florida Gov. Charlie Crist in Baton Rouge in December as new allies on issues like insurance, ethics, the environment and alternative energy. Crist has encouraged Jindal to work with Florida on the push to create a national insurance backup fund. Jindal, at 36, will be the youngest sitting governor when he takes office Jan. 14. AP

A Violation of the Separation of Powers

“This Court, by disregarding the express terms of the Legislature’s enactments, has violated the separation of powers clause of the Texas Constitution and impermissibly encroached on the powers and functions expressly reserved to the Legislature.”

—Excerpt from a brief drafted by Texas State Rep. Craig Eiland, D-Galveston, and signed by Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, and Rep. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola. The lawmakers and the Texas AFL-CIO have asked the Texas Supreme Court to reverse its decision in a case they say incorrectly expands liability protections for employers under state workers’ compensation laws. The court’s Aug. 31 ruling in the case of Entergy vs. Summers contradicts state law, the legislators argued in the brief filed with the court.

An Opportunity to Effect Change

“I am honored to have been chosen by my peers to continue to hold this position in this national organization. It gives me the opportunity to effect change not only for Arkansas insurance consumers, but for those all over the country.”

—Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Julie Benafield Bowman, who was re-elected to the position of vice chair of the Southeastern Zone of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The Southeastern Zone includes commissioners and regulators from Florida, West Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. As a Zone officer, Bowman is a member of the Executive Committee of the NAIC.

Topics Florida Texas Arkansas