One of my big complaints about property-casualty insurers is that with the industry split on several critical points, it's difficult to get badly needed reforms passed in Washington or the individual states. However, PCI President and CEO David Sampson says the industry stands together on far more issues than the few disputes dividing the various associations, while predicting an even closer working relationship among group leaders in the face of the “real existential threats” ahead.

Mr. Sampson knows the ways of Washington, having been deputy secretary in the Commerce Department before joining the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America last year. But he believes he also has a pretty good idea after nine months in his new job how the industry can work together even though individual players don't always see eye-to-eye.

Indeed, in a visit to our Hoboken headquarters office last week, Mr. Sampson pretty much dismissed my suggestion that intra-industry disputes over hot-button issues such as federal regulation and catastrophe coverage undermine efforts to push through regulatory and market reforms–particularly in Congress.