A bill that would make the Pennsylvania insurance commissioner
an elected
rather than appointed position was introduced in the state's
House of
Representatives.
Legislation sponsored by Rep. Neal Goodman, a Democrat from Mahanoy City, would limit an elected commissioner to holding no more than two consecutive four-year terms. It also prevents a commissioner leaving office from holding a position with an insurance company within four years of his departure.
Legislation also has been introduced in Connecticut to make the commissioner's job an elected one. Former Commissioner Thomas Sullivan was criticized for approving significant health insurance rate hikes last year. The proposal, by Rep. Andrew Fleischman, a Democrat from West Hartford, was introduced in late January.
Eleven states elect their commissioners, according to the the Insurance Journal. In most cases, chief insurance regulators are appointed either directly by a state's governor or group controlled by a governor.Click on elect insurance commissioners to read more about this in the Insurance Journal.
