PIA of La. Goes to Washington

The Professional Insurance Agents of Louisiana (PIA) reported that several of the association’s members are set to meet with members of Congress in Washington, D.C. on April 6, 2006.

Jared “Butsy” Martin, president of PIA of Louisiana and owner/principal of G. Martin Insurance in Lutcher; Dennis Cook, president-elect of PIA of Louisiana and owner/principal of La Independent in Metairie; William Mitchell, immediate past president of PIA of Louisiana and owner/principal of Mitchell Insurance Services of Denham Springs; Robert Page, president-elect of PIA National, national director of PIA of Louisiana, and owner/principal of Page & Sons Insurance Agency Inc. in Houma; David “Hal” Stiel, III, secretary/treasurer of PIA of Louisiana and owner/principal of David H. Stiel, Jr. Insurance in Franklin; David Tatman, of The Tatman Group in Baton Rouge and lobbyist for PIA of Louisiana; and Jody Boudreaux, executive vice president of PIA of Louisiana, are joining insurance agents from around the country who belong to the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) for the association’s annual Federal Legislative Summit.

Martin, Cook, Mitchell, Page, Stiel, Tatman, and Boudreaux will be visiting Senator Mary Landrieu (D) and Senator David Vitter (R), as well as House Representatives Bobby Jindal (R-1st), William J. Jefferson (D-2nd), Charlie Melancon (D-3rd), Jim McCrery (R-4th), Rodney Alexander (R-5th), Richard H. Baker (R-6th) and Charles W. Boustany, Jr. (R-7th) in their Capitol Hill offices to discuss issues important to professional, independent insurance agents and small businesses.

Prior to these meetings, the seven PIA members representing Louisiana will attend special presentations by Congressional leaders and high-level briefings on PIA’s current legislative initiatives conducted by PIA’s government affairs staff.

Among the top issues of concern for agents taking part in the 2006 PIA Federal Legislative Summit is supporting state-based regulation of insurance by opposing calls for optional federal charters for insurers, which would enable insurance companies to bypass state-specific consumer protections by seeking a federal charter. Agents will also advocate for the creation of a national natural catastrophe plan that supports the availability, affordability and stability of property insurance in catastrophe prone areas, as well as the economic viability of America’s local communities. In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita this issue is more poignant than at any other time.

Other issues PIA members will focus on during the 2006 PIA Federal Legislative Summit include long-term solutions to ensure the availability of terrorism insurance, reform of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and crop insurance. In addition to agent visits on Capitol Hill, PIA has scheduled meetings with officials of the federal agency that oversees the federal aspects of crop insurance.

Source: PIA of Louisiana

Topics Agencies Louisiana Washington