Voices

Quackenbush “betrayed the most fundamental principles of the Republican Party, which is devoted to the concept of limited government and enumerated powers.”

“It was his misfortune to be presented with a plan as clever as it was corrupt, and being unable to pronounce the word ‘no.’ ”

--Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Northridge)

“Whatever mistakes he may have made previously, Mr. Quackenbush made the right decision today. No deal was offered by my office to Mr. Quackenbush, and none is contemplated.”

--California Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer

“I take no joy in the ruin of a man. I guess the story of Mr. Quackenbush is a cautionary tale for us all. Unfortunately, the Department of Insurance committed unacceptable abuses of power during Mr. Quackenbush’s tenure as commissioner.”

--Assembly Insurance Committee Chairman Jack Scott (D-Altadena)

“I think this has become such an emotional trauma for him that he could no longer serve effectively as insurance commissioner. I am satisfied he has done nothing illegal or criminal or improper in any way. He made mistakes, which he readily admitted.”

--Quackenbush attorney Don Heller

“Our work is not done. That is important to underscore. The department is in disarray. I’m troubled by top lieutenants who appeared to have lied to both committees.”

--Senate Insurance Committee Chairwoman Jackie Speier (D-Daly City)

“Never. Never. I never in all my life thought this would happen. If you had told me 12 years ago when I sat down to write Proposition 103 that the person the voters elected would be on the front pages of the newspapers, and the subject of criminal investigation, I never would have believed it. I never thought the insurance industry could corrupt the office of insurance commissioner.”

--Harvey Rosenfield, author of the 1988 proposition that made the office of insurance commissioner an elected post.