Lapdogs and Watchdogs

Rep. Martinez Fischer: New leash laws for insurers?

After the lengthy delays in payouts after Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, Ike, etc. etc. etc., it's become pretty clear to many residents of the coast that depending on the state in a fight with the insurance companies is, well, optimistic. With SB 1001, the Office of Public Insurance Counsel Sunset bill, on the House floor, Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, took the opportunity to get proactive on having consumer input on future reforms. He wanted explicit language to allow the agency to "appear before a legislative committee and support or oppose the passage or defeat of a legislative measure on behalf of insurance consumers, as a class."

That's unusual for a state agency, which are normally supposed to speak on, not for or against, a bill. But, Martinez Fischer added, "If OPIC is our watchdog, then we need to teach them how to hunt. Right now, they're afraid to come out of their hole."

The amendment was adopted and the bill passed to third reading. Probably a good thing: If that measure failed, that Rep. Craig Eiland, D-Galveston, suggested renaming the agency OPLIC – "The Office of Public Lapdog Insurance Counsel."