Insurance Commissioner

* In his June 29 commentary on Chuck Quackenbush, Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Northridge) says, “Restoring that office [insurance commissioner] as a gubernatorial appointment is essential.” But wouldn’t the appointed insurance commissioner, acting on behalf of the governor, still have an incentive to tap the rich coffers of the insurance industry? Frankly, I would feel more comfortable with the insurance commissioner being answerable to the people who elected him. Who believes that the Democratic Legislature would have been as diligent in uncovering the commissioner’s wrongdoing if he had been a fellow Democrat appointed by a Democratic governor?

Another of McClintock’s suggestions has merit: The Legislature must enact a law allowing whistle-blowers to furnish insurance industry regulatory records and documents suggesting criminal conduct to the Legislature and to law enforcement agencies without having to risk violating the law.

Thank you, L.A. Times, for exposing this corruption.

WALT LEWIS

Glendale

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Those who think we can get an honest insurance commissioner by changing the office back to one appointed by the governor are missing the lessons of the past. Instead of giving millions to corrupt a commissioner, the insurance companies will give millions to corrupt a governor. The solution is for insurance regulation to be nationalized. It has worked for securities, banking, communications, transportation and almost everything else. States are simply no match for the giant insurance companies and their multinational law firms.

Honest insurance companies will welcome nationalization of insurance laws and regulation. At present they have to contend with 50 different laws; they have to print up and sell 50 different policies; and they require lawyers and accountants in 50 different states. It is time to clean up our almost unregulated insurance industry.

RICHARD D. ROSENBLATT

Rancho Santa Fe

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If we boycott the insurance companies that were involved in the earthquake claims mishandling, those companies will not be around anymore.

TIM KHALED

Los Angeles

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As an individual with 34 years of experience in the insurance field, I find it hard to believe that the situation with Quackenbush was unknown to the Assembly Insurance Committee. As early as 1997, there was a settlement with John Hancock that resulted in $750,000 going to political consultants and television spots for Quackenbush when he faced reelection in 1998.

The Northridge residents called their state assemblyman, senator and also their congressman for help and to complain about problems with their insurance. It is beyond me how this was allowed to continue for as long as it has.

AL SNOOK

Garden Grove

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Quackenbush was an expendable pawn. If his resignation prevents an investigation into the actions of the insurance companies, the consumers of our state will be checkmated.

GARY DORDICK

Beverly Hills