Inauguration Is Insurance Industry Party Time

By Arthur D. Postal, Washington Bureau Chief

NU Online News Service, Jan. 19, 4:10 p.m. EST,Washington?Companies and trade associations with ties tothe insurance industry will host small private inauguration partiesthat sometimes offer hospitality to influential congressmen.

Amongst the groups with ties to the insurance industry that willbe holding fetes during the Inaugural parade are Mutual of Omaha,whose well-attended functions are a fixture of inaugurations.

The Financial Services Roundtable, which has a number ofinsurance company members; Clark Consulting, which advisescompanies on executive compensation programs; and Baker Daniels, alaw firm which specializes in insurance and other financialservices issues.

Notably missing from the scene this year is the Council ofInsurance Agents and Brokers, which has offices along the paraderoute of Pennsylvania Ave., and has held functions during severalpast inaugurations, has allowed a member of Congress to use toentertain his guests.

"We decided early to spare the expense," said Joel Wood, anexecutive vice president and lobbyist for the CIAB. "As a result,we offered our offices to a member of Congress from Texas to use toentertain constituents attending inaugural events." The congressmanis footing the bill, Mr. Wood said; he declined to identify therepresentative or senator involved.

One of the largest parties being hosted by an insurance companyis the Mutual of Omaha event. Its offices are located onPennsylvania Ave. along the parade route, which offers an excellentview.

Mutual of Omaha staffers, other insurance industry lobbyists,members of Congress and others are being invited to stop by,according to a staff official at headquarters in Omaha.

"We've been doing it for years," the staff official, Jim Nolan,said. "It allows people attending inaugural functions to get out ofthe inclement weather, and at the same time take advantage of ouroffice location."

The Financial Services Roundtable gathering during the InauguralParade "is very informal," said Jennifer Smith, a spokesperson. Itis limited to officials of member companies who are attending theinaugural festivities, she said.

The Clark Consulting's party allows attendees to take advantageof the view from one of the most modern and visible, as well asexpensive, buildings, along the parade route. The American Councilof Life Insurers is the master tenant of the building alongConstitution Ave., but the trade group is not planning an inauguralfunction, according to Jack Dolan, an ACLI staff official.

While Baker, Daniels' offices allow only a limited view of theparade route, having a function there has been a tradition foryears, said a spokesman. The party is for clients, including thosein the insurance and other financial services industries, thespokesman said.