Quackenbush

According to your coverage of the Assembly Insurance Committee hearings, Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush claims he knew nothing of the key decisions and policies of the most significant actions under his purview (April 28). What a cop-out!

If it’s true, what does he do for his paycheck? He should be impeached for either outright lying or gross incompetence; either one is good for me.

CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMSON

Los Angeles

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For weeks, I’ve been reading about Quackenbush’s conflicts of interest. Initially I was appalled with him taking contributions from insurance companies, then with him settling claims by having insurance companies contribute to his favorite foundations.

What’s wrong with this picture? Why isn’t there a bigger outrage over Quackenbush’s behavior? Shouldn’t he be suspended, recalled or at the very least investigated? I think we have “Quackengate.”

MARLENE BRONSON

Santa Monica

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Quackenbush’s only “error in judgment” was thinking he wouldn’t get caught.

SCOTT J. TEPPER

Hidden Hills

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Quackenbush has revealed his true colors; throw the crook out!

JEFF A. NAMHIE

Redondo Beach

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As your April 26 editorial regarding Quackenbush suggests, this entire episode is cause for concern. May I offer one suggestion for the appropriate disposition of “leftover” foundation money?

I, and probably thousands like me, borrowed substantial sums of money from the Small Business Administration to help put our homes together. If the insurance companies had dealt more equitably with us after the 1994 earthquake, we might not have had to borrow money. I haven’t missed a payment but still owe $19,000; how about some relief for us?

ALAN MATUNY

Granada Hills

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Reading the April 27 paper places me in a five-star quandary. Which is worse: the Rampart boys framing two innocent women and arranging their eviction after stealing their life savings, or the commissioner shielding insurers from accountability in exchange for sizable donations to various Quackenbush-controlled foundations? After much mental flip-flopping, I think that the commissioner wins by a hairsbreadth, by virtue of the sheer gall and huge amounts of public money involved.

HORACE GAIMS

Los Angeles