FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                       Contact: Michael Gorman 410-841-3380

Delegate Taylor Proposes Legislation for Insurance Commissioner Position to be
Elected by the People

ANNAPOLIS (March 10, 2005) – In response to all the problems concerning insurance as of late, Delegate Herman Taylor (D- District 14, Ashton) has introduced legislation for the insurance commissioner position to be elected into term. Currently, the governor appoints the insurance commissioner and the people have no say in who handles their insurance. “ I just hope that by having the insurance commissioner elected, it will bring a lot more accountability to the office and it will ultimately better the people” adds Delegate Taylor.

Current insurance commissioner Alfred W. Redmer Jr was appointed by Governor Ehrlich in June 2003 to serve out a four-year term. Since that time, he has angered Maryland residents in his constant attempts to raise the costs of insurance. Redmer sides over and over again with insurance companies and refuses to explain his decisions to legislative committees. He hands over authority to insurance companies giving them the opportunity to make millions off of Maryland residents.

During his term, he has done little to protect Maryland residents and constantly hides behind the governor when addressed with these concerns. Residents who were affected by Hurricane Isabelle in September 2003 continue to long for insurance coverage because little has been done to help them piece together their lives.

High insurance premiums are driving residents away from the city of Baltimore. Homeowners insurance is constantly going up with no plan to reduce these higher costs. Companies plan to raise rates of medical malpractice due to Redmer’s disconcern for the residents of Maryland. Today, HMOs only cover approximately 33% of Marylanders and the taxes on HMOs are expected to raise $200 yearly for family coverage.

Auto insurance rates have been high the past 10-15 years. Maryland is one of the top 15 states with the highest auto insurance rates. States with elected insurance commissioner positions have some of the lowest rates in country.

If Delegate Taylor’s bill is passed, Maryland residents can decide for themselves who will be in charge of their insurance. These problems can be prevented if Maryland had a commissioner who represented his residents, not insurance companies. Why should the Governor be the one who decides who will be in charge of our insurance?