Editor's Note: The Tallahassee Democrat published the following Letter to the Editor by Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty on Aug. 8, 2010.

The Office of Insurance Regulation has endured many attacks from detractors regarding its solvency review for homeowners insurance companies and for measures taken by the Office prior to a company being placed into receivership – the most recent attack was from Eli Lehrer of the Heartland Institute printed in the Tallahassee Democrat. Many of these attacks have been either disingenuous or completely wrong. At best, many of these "experts" clearly do not understand the risk based solvency framework that has been successfully utilized by U.S. state insurance regulators, including Florida, to resolve issues with financially troubled companies.

On April 7, 2010, the Office of Insurance Regulation referred Northern Capital Insurance Company (Northern Capital) into receivership. In his "My View" published July 29, Eli Lehrer used this example to conclude that the Office is not protecting consumers. To the contrary, this action illustrates the Office's consumer protection. Despite the failure of this company, consumer claims will be paid.