As Congress prepares for 2011 discussions on an optional federal charter, a new association representing small-to-midsize insurers will focus primarily on opposing any federal regulation of the industry.

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., threatened to resurrect his quest for a public health insurance option after failing to win a commitment from federal and state officials for regulations imposing tight control over administrative costs in premiums.

Creation of an optional federal charter for insurers will be on Congress' 2011 agenda because it has strong bipartisan support.

Trade groups representing large insurers are urging the Treasury Department to ensure that the Federal Insurance Office (FIO), created under the financial services reform bill, plays a strong role in representing the U.S. on global insurance issues.

Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario will direct the unit that will develop and oversee the Health Insurance Exchange system, scheduled to go into effect in 2014 as part of the health insurance reform act.

As Congress considers ways to resolve wind-versus-water damage disputes, the U.S. House of Representatives for the second time in two weeks opted not to act on a bill that would add windstorm coverage to the National Flood Insurance Program.

The federal government may sell its stake in American International Group through a public stock offering sometime after 2013, according to the Government Accountability Office.

Creation of an optional federal charter for insurers will be on Congress' 2011 agenda because it has strong bipartisan support, Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, has told state insurance legislators.