The insurance commissioner of Washington, D.C. has resignedunder pressure following his comments regarding PresidentObama's healthcare plan fixes.

Commissioner William P. White was notified Friday by DeputyMayor Victor Hoskins, who works for D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray,that White's services were no longer needed.

PC360 obtained a copy of White's resignationletter.

Gray's office did not respond to requests for commentSaturday.

White issued a press statement Nov. 14 saying that the action byPresident Obama allowing extension of policy contracts not meetingthe Essential Health Benefits provision of the PatientProtection and Affordable Care Act “undercuts the purpose of theexchanges, including the District's D.C. Health Link, by creatingexceptions that make it more difficult for them to operate.”

White, an independent, said he concurred with the NationalAssociation of Insurance Commissioner's (NAIC) sentiment, whichstated that “This decision continues different rules for differentpolicies and threatens to undermine the new market, and may lead tohigher premiums and market disruptions in 2014 and beyond.”

In an email to PC360, White explains, “My comments onissues affecting insurance, securities, and banking markets in DChave always been understood to be from the regulatoryperspective. I do not speak for the Mayor and have neverindicated otherwise. I was not criticizing the President, butI was calling into question the course of action being suggestedbecause of its potential impact on the DC marketplace and itsresidents.

“The statement reflected concerns but also made clear that DISBwould work with stakeholders to determine what would be the bestcourse of action for DC. In this instance the politicalaspects overshadowed what I believe were the more importantmarketplace concerns. I have been committed to the exchangeidea because I believed it would improve the delivery of healthcareto District residents. I think what we have accomplished goesa long way toward making that a reality. I thought I was doing myjob by protecting what we have built,” he continued.

White told PC360 Hoskins told him the city “was movingin a different direction.”

White said he wasn't entirely surprised at the mayor's decision,given that this is an election year and things are alwayssensitive.

Chester A. McPherson, deputy commissioner of market operationsat the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, replacedWhite.

The decision is effective Dec. 2, although White left the officethe day he was notified. His email refers to Nov. 16 as his lastday in government service. He was notified just after returningfrom an insurance regulation-related trip to Korea.

White was confirmed by the City Council of the District ofColumbia on June 7, 2011, by a unanimous vote. He is the chiefregulator of the District of Columbia's financial-servicesindustries but played a large part on the national andinternational regulatory stages, as well.

White has been very active in policy discussions with theInternational Association of Insurance Supervisors, the EU-U.S.Dialogue, the NAIC, as well as in the District on local policyhealth insurance matters.

He is also member of the Federal Insurance Office FederalAdvisory Committee on Insurance.

“I thought he was very bright and articulate, and one of a smallnumber of commissioners who was very involved in internationalissues,” said Thomas Leonardi, Connecticut insurancecommissioner and the chair of the NAIC's InternationalCommittee, via email. “He will be sorely missed at the NAIC and Iam saddened by the news that he is no longer the D.C.Commissioner.” White was Leonardi's vice chair.