Parting Shots

Happy 80th Birthday Insurance Journal

Not many businesses can make the claim, “we’re 80 years old.” Now Insurance Journal can. It’s hard to believe we started in Los Angeles in 1923 as a life insurance magazine. My family came on the scene in 1936 when …

Licensing All Drivers

Many states are considering legislation that would allow qualified undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses. Such legislation would not violate federal immigration law, which does not prohibit states from licensing all drivers, regardless of whether they are in this country …

Licensing All Drivers

Many states are considering legislation that would allow qualified undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses. Such legislation would not violate federal immigration law, which does not prohibit states from licensing all drivers, regardless of whether they are in this country …

States Fight Back as Federal Takeover of State Regulation Threatens

When I first became an insurance regulator in 1999, I was alarmed by the aggressive tone of those who were advocating for a takeover of state insurance regulation by the federal government. At that time, I mentioned to Mike Pickens, …

States Fight Back as Federal Takeover of State Regulation Threatens

When I first became an insurance regulator in 1999, I was alarmed by the aggressive tone of those who were advocating for a takeover of state insurance regulation by the federal government. At that time, I mentioned to Mike Pickens, …

New Calif. Governor Faces Full Plate of Industry Issues

Despite the uncertainty over who will be the next governor of California, the state’s next CEO will have to deal with groundbreaking insurance legislation that will be crafted, debated and implemented over the next several months and into 2004. Implementation …

Has ‘Pain and Suffering’ Priced Itself Out of the Market’

Texas voters have an opportunity on Sept. 13 to remove the joker from an ingenious form of judicial poker that has pushed up insurance costs so high medical providers are being forced to restrict services. Non-economic damages awards in tort …

Despite Compulsory Coverage Laws, Fight Against UMs Marches On

Compulsory auto insurance. It sounds like the “silver bullet” for the problems of uninsured motorists, doesn’t it? Make it mandatory for all motorists to purchase coverage and you won’t have an uninsured motorist (UM) problem, right? Not exactly! The fact …

Despite Compulsory Coverage Laws, Fight Against UMs Marches On

“Compulsory auto insurance.” It sounds like the “silver bullet” for the problems of uninsured motorists, doesn’t it? Make it mandatory for all motorists to purchase coverage and you won’t have an uninsured motorist (UM) problem, right? Not exactly! The fact …

Why Golf is Everyone’s Game

Despite its relatively small size, rocky terrain and famously inclement weather, Scotland has given the world two extraordinary gifts—whisky and golf. Although, like most games, it’s played with a ball, golf isn’t the equivalent of a “combat situation.” You don’t …

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