Declarations

Flood Hiatus

“That’s scary.”

—John Prible, vice president of federal government affairs for the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers (the Big “I”), commenting on the prospect of Congress not renewing the National Flood Insurance Program before it recessed for a two week break. The next day, Congress did just that. NFIP reauthorization has to wait until the week of April 12, when Congress returns.

Sizing Up

“Everybody’s trying to size everybody else up and divide into teams and see who’s going to lead the charge where.”

—Mark Lanier, a Houston lawyer who joined trial lawyers from across the country at a San Diego to compare notes, strategize and jostle for a prime shot at the legal bounty from lawsuits against Toyota.

Marsh Commitment

“Marsh will not accept contingent commissions on any placements for any U.S. clients served by the firm’s core broking operations. The firm will continue to provide detailed transactional disclosure to clients in its core brokerage operations, including all quotes received and compensation information.”

—Giant insurance broker Marsh announcing that its main brokerage unit will not accept contingent commissions on business for U.S. or Canadian clients but its Marsh & McLennan Agency and its affinity and personal lines business units will. Competitors Aon and Willis have also indicated they will not accept them.

Welcoming the Fight

“If they want to have that fight, I welcome that fight. I don’t believe the American people are going to put the insurance industry back in the driver’s seat. We’ve been there already and we’re not going back.”

—President Barack Obama Obama advising his Republican critics that their promise to make repeal of the new healthcare law the centerpiece of the congressional campaign would backfire.

Quick Consideration

“You won’t need to call expert witnesses or file a lot of briefs. This is a matter of law, not policy.”

—South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster, one of 12 Republican attorneys general planning to bring lawsuits to stop the federal government’s healthcare reform bill from encroaching on states’ sovereignty. The case could be decided relatively quickly at the trial-court level because the question is mainly one of law, according to McMaster. He said appeals and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling were likely to follow.

Topics USA Agencies