Quotations

“During the session the stability of the insurance marketplace was threatened by legislation that would have saddled insurers with excessive regulation, increased litigation and significantly impaired their ability to conduct business. Although some of the legislation that passed will force rates to increase and hamper competition, based on the overall tone of the session, we are satisfied with this year’s outcome.”

– Greg LaCost, assistant vice president and regional manager for Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI), describing the 2006 Louisiana regular legislative session, which PCI said was “very contentious.”

“We are closely monitoring the situation and are prepared to provide full support to local officials. We will do whatever it takes to help keep Texans in the affected region safe.”

– Texas Gov. Rick Perry, in an announcement reporting that the governor had deployed national guard crews and other state resources to Houston June 19 and 20 after the area was deluged with heavy rainfall of up to 11 inches in some areas.

‘This bill had a very short life span and I’m pleased to have pulled the plug.”

– Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco on vetoing a bill that would have expanded the insurance benefits for lawmakers paid for by the state. The measure, House Bill 1028, had generated harsh criticism after the legislative session ended.

‘A lot of these people are on Medicaid or they don’t have private insurance. They end up in hospitals and the taxpayers end up footing the bill for them. It’s a major economic hit, and that’s what got my attention.”

– Arkansas State Rep. Bob Mathis, on his proposal to ban women from smoking while pregnant. Mathis said he’s heard from people across the country, many of whom think his bill would infringe on constitutional rights. During the 2006 regular session of the Arkansas Legislature, Mathis was successful in passing a bill making it unlawful to smoke while in an automobile with a child in a car seat. Many of his legislative colleagues reportedly thought he was joking when he first proposed the smoking-in-cars-with-kids ban. Source: Associated Press.

“Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our state, and they are in need of help. For 18 months, our agriculture community has endured serious drought. The magnitude of what our farmers and ranchers have been dealt is serious, and it warrants help from the USDA.”

– Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry, appealing to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns to grant a disaster designation for all 77 Oklahoma counties in the wake of drought and severe weather conditions that have persisted in the state.

Topics Legislation Agribusiness Oklahoma