At least 26 of the commissioners at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) have strong ties to the insurance industry, Consumer Watchdog says.
Consumer Watchdog, Santa Monica, Calif., reports that 24 commissioners worked in the insurance industry before being appointed and that two elected commissioners – Ralph Hudgens of Georgia and Sandy Praeger of Kansas – depended heavily on insurance industry campaign contributions.
Hudgens and Praeger both counted the insurance industry as their top source of contributions, Consumer Watchdog says, citing statistics from the National Institute on Money in State Politics, Helena, Mont.
The group says six past presidents of the NAIC, Kansas City, Mo., who ended their terms in 2000 or later have gone on to work for the insurance industry as lobbyists or consultants.
