NU Online News Service, April 23, 11:55 a.m.EDT

Independent insurance agents and brokers from around the countrywill descend upon Washington D.C. this week to talk politics andinsurance during the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers ofAmerica's annual legislative conference and convention.

The event will kick-off this Wednesday at the Grand HyattWashington Hotel with the Young Agents and InsurPac StateChairpersons Legislative Luncheon.

Agents will hear from Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., a member of theHouse Ways and Means Committee.

Robert A. Rusbuldt, IIABA president and chief executive officercalls Schock “a rising star” in the Republican Party. He notesthat, in Schock's freshman year in Congress, he was selected by hispeers to serve as Deputy Republican Whip.

On Thursday, the IIABA will hold its legislative conferencebreakfast. Attendees will hear from Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.,chairman of the U.S. Senate Republican conference and Rep. JohnBarrow, D-Ga., co-chairman of the Blue Dog Coalition.

Of most interest to agents will be Barrow's insights into theCongressional landscape on House bill HR-1206, which would “haltthe devastating effects on agents that is being caused by the newhealth care law's restrictive Medical Loss Ratio provision byremoving agent compensation from the formula,” says Rusbuldt.

Barrow is a top sponsor of HR-1206, says Rusbuldt.

The Representative serves on the Energy and Commerce Committeeand the Veteran's Affairs Committee.

The event will conclude Friday with the IIABA's conventiongeneral session.

Mike Donohoe, IIABA chairman, will deliver the state of theassociation address that morning.

Following the address, agents will get some insights “fromopposing sides of the political spectrum on an array of importantissues” from Fred Barnes and Mort Kondracke in a panel discussionmoderated by Rusbuldt.

Barnes is a FOX News political analyst and founder of the WeeklyStandard. Kondracke is also a FOX political analyst and serves asRoll Call newspaper's senior editor.

Additional information and registration is available at www.independentagent.comunder the “Eventsand Conferences” link.