Originally Posted By Darkbeer <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-ed-poizner04oct04" target="_blank">http://www.latimes.com/news/pr intedition/california/la-ed-poizner04oct04</a>,1,5781342.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california&ctrack=1&cset=true >>Now Garamendi is leaving again, and the fight is renewed between consumer advocates — who say the industry is out to cheat customers — and insurance companies, which say regulators don't understand the market. Garamendi is backing Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante over Republican tycoon Steve Poizner. The twist is that the best choice for consumers, hands down, is Poizner. The Silicon Valley entrepreneur has solid market credentials, having built a billion-dollar company from a global positioning device that locates cellphone users for emergency operators. He has made reducing insurance fraud a priority, which would protect the industry but also would allow companies to offer lower prices to consumers. He acknowledges that "insurance companies want to own this position" — and he vows not to let them. He has said he'll defend Garamendi's auto insurance rate regulations, which put a person's driving record ahead of where the driver lives. He vows to defend Proposition 103. He's credible, and his history shows he's a man of integrity. He thinks before he acts, a trait exemplified by his careful study of a liberal Democratic Bay Area Assembly district that he almost won, and his equally studious approach to and backing for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's redistricting reform, a measure that, while unsuccessful, was worthy. The insurance commissioner's job, he notes, "requires analytical horsepower." Poizner has it. Bustamante, as a legislator, often backed bills that insurance companies sought to help them avoid complying with Proposition 103. For example, he advocated the repeal of the initiative's good-driver discount. When he ran for governor in the campaign to recall Gray Davis, he misused donations from Indian tribes and was heavily fined. As a candidate for insurance commissioner, he accepted insurer contributions, then returned them when it became a campaign issue. It was not a proud day for Democrats when it became clear that he would be their nominee. His election would be a step backward for consumers. Poizner is no Garamendi; with his market orientation, Poizner is open to permitting lower-premium health policies and other types of coverage with very high deductibles, along with other moves that may not prove popular with consumers. But he is dedicated to making sure insurers are competitive and, where the market falls short, he will be an effective consumer watchdog. <<
Originally Posted By Darkbeer <a href="http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/oped/ci_4429626" target="_blank">http://www.insidebayarea.com/a rgus/oped/ci_4429626</a> >>AN obvious race for state office in the Nov. 7 election should be that for insurance commissioner. We recommend Republican Steve Poizner of Los Gatos. He is better qualified for the post than Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante — and held in higher public esteem. His major hurdle is that Bustamante is better known, having served 13 years in elected office. Poizner, who has a business and public service background, has less name recognition and has not held elective office. Bustamante, a former speaker of the California Assembly, has been lieutenant governor, the weakest office in state government, for the past eight years. Although being a Democrat and a Latino should be an advantage in California, Bustamante has seriously sullied his image. -In 2001, he used the "N" word in a speech to black labor activists, triggering questions about his attitude toward African-Americans. -He was the highest ranking Democrat to run for governor in the 2003 recall election, finishing a disappointing second to Arnold Schwarzenegger. The big impact, however, was the record $263,000 fine that the Fair Political Practices Commission levied against Bustamante for skirting campaign finance laws by accepting $3.8 million in excessive contributions, mostly from Indian gaming interests. -Early this year, he had accepted $150,000 in contributions and gifts from insurance companies and affiliates. Bustamante — and aides — also received free meals and travel expenses from insurance firms, the very industry he seeks to oversee and regulate. Accepting donations ran counter to a rule of thumb adopted by fellow Democrat John Garamendi, the current commissioner and two-term holder of the office. Termed out of his current position, Bustamante is shopping for a new post in Sacramento's unending game of musical chairs. But missteps have cost him. We cannot recommend him for another state office. <<
Originally Posted By cmpaley Let's see...the LA Times gets bought out by a conservative paper in Chicago a few years ago and suddenly starts endorsing right-wingers. Imagine THAT!!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Let's see...the LA Times gets bought out by a conservative paper in Chicago a few years ago and suddenly starts endorsing right-wingers. Imagine THAT!!< Imagine that both major Chicago papers routinely endorse as many Deomocrats as Republicans -- as opposed to always leaning one way IMAGINE THAT
