NAMIC: NAIC Group Needs Ind. Input

By Michael Ha

NU Online News Service, March 13, 3:00 p.m.EST?The National Association of Insurance Commissioners'Government Affairs Task Force recently held its inaugural meetingat the NAIC's spring national meeting in Atlanta.

The task force, which will renew NAIC member participation infederal and state government relations efforts, plans to develop,coordinate and implement the association's legislative andregulatory agendas.

But a statement by Terri Vaughan, Iowa insurance commissionerand task force chairperson, that many of the meetings might be heldin executive session because of the strategic nature ofdeliberations, has raised concerns for industry professionals,according to the National Association of Mutual InsuranceCompanies

"This Task Force may help commissioners develop more strategicmessages, but they will be overlooking an importantstakeholder--those in the industry who support state regulation--ifthey exclude us entirely from their deliberations," said DaveReddick, market regulation manager for NAMIC in Indianapolis.

"I can understand why they need to have strategic meetingsbehind closed doors, and I can appreciate that. But I hope not alltheir sessions will be executive session because it will be helpfulfor the task force to engage those in the industry and havedialogues. I hope they don't foreclose an opportunity to work withthe industry," Mr. Reddick told National Underwriter.