With AAA in His Corner, Bannister Comes Out Swinging at AB 749 By Robert Warne - February 17, 2002Wes Bannister turned up the heat for the Republican nomination for Insurance Commissioner by receiving a key endorsement by the American Agents Alliance (AAA). He also came out swinging on the new workers’ compensation legislation. A day after Gov. Gray Davis signed the “benefits increase” legislation contained in Assembly Bill 749, Bannister didn’t hesitate nor mince any words when he shared his opinion of the legislation Jan 16.
"The Legislature and the Governor have fast-tracked another phony reform scam that will cost employers over a billion dollars. Politicians making decisions about insurance makes as much sense as Olympic ice skating judging," said Bannister.
He also said, “This new law, costing employers over one billion dollars in the next few years, was written by one of the Democratic candidates for Insurance Commissioner to gain support of the labor unions. This could easily be California's own Enron.
"California faces a serious insurance crisis. The state is already reeling from insolvencies of a number of workers' compensation carriers and a shortage of available lines of insurance. Consumers, already reeling from higher costs and less availability, will face even more hardships if the insurance department does not act quickly," Bannister said.
Bannister pointed to the danger of electing career politicians to handle the job of Insurance Commissioner. "Electing ambitious politicians has turned the Insurance Commissioner's office into a quagmire of scandals and political appointees getting on-the-job insurance training at taxpayer expense. I will stop the shameful antics of politician Insurance Commissioners and provide
experienced leadership to solve, not create problems."
AAA is one of California's oldest and most powerful political associations of brokers and insurance agents.
Based in South Pasadena, AAA endorsed Wes Bannister for Insurance Commissioner, calling him "the clear choice among the Republican candidates for Insurance Commissioner." The group also issued a warning that "voting for the wrong candidate could very well result in higher insurance premiums for California consumers."
AAA said, "Bannister will vigorously fight to keep insurance premiums affordable and to protect the rights of consumers. Bannister has been a broker-agent in California for over 30 years and clearly understands what steps the California Department of Insurance needs to take in order to protect consumers."
Bannister called the American Agents Alliance, "far-sighted for recognizing that California consumers have suffered enough from the ambitious politicians and their political spin-doctor staff, that have gutted California pocketbooks for the past twelve years."
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