For what is supposedly still a state-regulated business, insurance officials spent an awful lot of time in Washington this past year–and given the circumstances, it looks like that will certainly remain the case once again throughout 2009.

Of course, the biggest story out of the nation's capital this year was the election of Barack Obama, which means the Democrats will control both the executive and legislative branches next year–a prospect not at all comforting to this generally Republican-leaning industry.

Shortly after the Illinois senator won the seemingly endless race for the White House over Republican rival John McCain of Arizona, industry observers were already fretting about the likelihood that a Democratic administration will appoint more plaintiff-friendly judges to the federal bench, as well as regulators who will take no prisoners as they impose new rules.