Former Ga. Commissioner Grants Himself Licenses, Does Not Complete Courses

NU Online News Service, Feb. 23, 1:53 p.m. EST

Former Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine issued himself insurance licenses before leaving office without completing the necessary classes or tests, an Atlanta Journal Constitution investigation revealed.

The AJC reported that Mr. Oxendine granted himself a waiver and said his 16 years of experience as commissioner granted him enough experience to qualify for the licenses.

"If 16 years doesn't give you a little bit of insurance experience, I don't know what does," Mr. Oxendine said, according to the AJC. "I think that's [worth] a little bit more than taking a test and taking a class."

The AJC said it obtained records revealing that Mr. Oxendine applied for insurance agent, adjuster and counselor licenses on Jan. 4 and that the licenses were issued five days later, a day before Mr. Oxendine left his office to be succeeded by Ralph Hudgens.

The AJC report cites critical reactions from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the state, as well as Mr. Hudgens, the new insurance commissioner.

Mr. Hudgens told the AJC he looked into whether he can do anything about the issuance of the licenses but noted that he is unable to revoke them, as the commissioner is allowed to grant waivers.

An update in the AJC noted that Mr. Hudgens is supporting legislation to prevent commissioners from granting such waivers to themselves in the future.

For more information, see the AJC article, "Oxendine's Actions Assailed."