Declarations

Political Citizens

“We probably would have hoped they would have gone further than they did but these are very substantive recommendations and given the politics, these are tough issues.”

—Sam Miller, chief executive for the Florida Insurance Council, responding to the first round of recommendations by a special task force regarding Citizens Property Insurance. A final report is due by Jan. 31.

No Carolina Exception

“Sadly, North Carolina is no exception to the same fire problems facing the country. Nationally, this has been one of the deadliest holiday seasons in recent history, which is why I want to remind all North Carolinians just how important fire safety and prevention is — to prevent future tragedies in our state.”

—New North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin, who also serves as the state fire marshal, in joining national officials in declaring a fire emergency across his state. According to the most recent 2008 statistics for North Carolina, over the past year there have been 4,987 reported structure fires, which caused at least 24 fatalities and 220 injuries.

Government Role

“Voters seem to be saying that government is the solution, or at least a big part of it.”

—Mark McKinnon, vice chairman of Public Strategies, commenting on his firm’s poll showing that more than seven in 10 Americans think U.S. business is on the wrong track, and 67 percent think federal regulation of businesses should be increased.

Obama Court

“If a justice is considering stepping down, it tends to happen when the party of the president that nominated that justice is in power.”

—Vanderbilt professor of law and political science Tracey George explaining why she thinks the U.S. court system, especially the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals, could dramatically change soon after President Barrack Obama takes office. George said as many as three Supreme Court justices could leave the court while Obama is in office.

Good for State Regulation

“Terri’s depth and breadth of industry knowledge, experience and expertise will surely be an asset to the NAIC. We worked hard to ensure we selected someone who would be good for state insurance regulation, state insurance regulators and employees of the NAIC.”

—2008 NAIC President and Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger commenting on selection of former Iowa Insurance Commissioner Therese (Terri) Vaughan as the new CEO of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners working out of Washington, D.C. The selection was based on the recommendation of a search committee formed last summer, which Praeger chaired.

Topics Legislation North Carolina