PIA Legislative Day: Major Issues Discussed, Legislators Urge Agents ‘Become More Active’

Medicaid reform, changing term limits and ethics will be three major issues of concern to the Florida Legislature during upcoming meetings and through 2006 according to Ron Villela, Professional Insurance Agents of Florida lobbyist in his introductory remarks during PIAF’s Feb. 16 Legislative Day in Tallahassee.

Sen. Jim King (R-Jacksonville), Rep. Frank Farkas (R-Pinellas) and Rep. Dean Cannon (R-Winter Park), all guest speakers at the event said it’s urgent that independent agents contact their local legislators and tell them the insurance industry’s side of the story.

King commented that it’s important for independent agents to voice their opinion about their needs, but must be realistic, which could mean giving up some provision that might be good for your business to be good for the overall industry.

“If you don’t want to be legislated out of business, you must find common ground,” King said. “You have to decide how to bury your hatchets and unify your force.”

King said the consumer now thinks of the insurance company not as a protector, but as an adversary.

“The insurance industry can’t just say, ‘Woe is me,'” King said. “You have to fight to build more PEOs and illustrate that there is a need for independent agents.”

King advised independent agents, in their role as independent businessmen, to take an active role in local politics. He said one way, but not the only way to do this was to donate to local legislators they support. “Money will give you access to your local legislators,” he said. “But other means of support include working in the office and waving signs on street corners to support their candidate.”

He said those types of supporters are remembered. King also suggested calling your legislator and asking for 10 minutes to give the insurance industry’s side of the story. He said that he gives a lot more weight to a 10 minute call from a constituent than a call from a lobbyist and accepts their calls ahead of lobbyists. He cautioned to remember that legislators receive dozens of calls each day, so to keep your discussion on the mark.

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