Texas Senate forcing out state insurance commissioner

[TexasTowelie]

AUSTIN — Texas Insurance Commissioner Eleanor Kitzman will apparently have to step down as the state’s top insurance regulator because she cannot garner the necessary Senate votes for confirmation.

Kitzman, who was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry nearly two years ago, has faced opposition from Democrats and Republicans in the upper chamber, several senators say. To remain as commissioner, she would need the support of at least two-thirds of senators in the current legislative session.

Senate Nominations Committee Chairman Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, said Thursday that he was posting the agenda for his last meeting of the session, to be held Monday, and it did not include Kitzman’s name.

In fact, Perry never reappointed Kitzman as commissioner after her original term expired in February — in large part because of opposition to her nomination in the Senate.

More at http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/state-politics/20130516-texas-senate-forcing-out-state-insurance-commissioner.ece .

[font color=green]She is another shill bought and paid for by the insurance industry.[/font]

[jmowreader]

1. West Fertilizer prob. has a lot to do with this

Texas' OSHA is the Department of Insurance, and the patch of bare ground formerly known as the town of West is stark proof they haven't been doing their jobs.

[LiberalFighter]

2. I didn't think it matter to them if they did their job.

[TexasTowelie]

3. This has been building for awhile.

There has been a lot of controversy this year regarding the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association and whether it can remain solvent if there is a serious hurricane that strikes the state. The troubles with TWIA have been brewing since Hurricane Ike.

Another controversy is in regards to homeowners insurance rates and the settlement of the State Farm rate increase that occurred in 2003. The court case between State Farm and TDI remains in appeal.

Finally, there has been discussion about the elimination of the Office of Public Insurance Counsel. The head of that agency has been critical of the insurance commissioner.

[white cloud]

4. Good point

K&R