California insurance commissioner blasted for skipping hearings on state's crisis

San Francisco Chronicle / July 1, 2024

A California oversight commission has taken nine hours of public testimony in recent months looking into the state’s burgeoning insurance crisis and what can be done to solve it. Experts have testified on everything from the premium levels to wildfire mitigation.

But there’s one person the group has not heard from: Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara.

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The Little Hoover Commission has held two hearings and one roundtable discussion on the insurance crisis, but despite seven letters to the department, neither Lara nor any other department employees participated in any meeting, according to Nava. Nava said he has not gotten an explanation as to why Lara would not attend.

The Little Hoover Commission is made up of 13 commissioners appointed by the governor and the legislature. Its mission is to probe statewide issues and create thoughtful recommendations for legislative solutions without the time crunch of the legislative session, according to (Commission Chair Pedro) Nava.

Link (paywall): https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/insurance-ricardo-lara-19541853.php

Quote (from the link): “I’m aghast that an elected official, the insurance commissioner, will not appear, nor will he send his top representative,” Commissioner Gil Garcetti said last month at the committee’s most recent meeting.

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I didn't vote for this bullshit. If you or your staff is not going to attend the meetings Commissioner, or even bother to respond, at least tell us why.